Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Ministry of Health has received an additional 67,000 doses of Mpox vaccines from the United States Government, giving fresh momentum to the country’s fight against the outbreak.
The donation comes at a crucial moment, as Sierra Leone edges closer to eliminating the disease, which has claimed lives and sparked nationwide concern.
Health and Sanitation Minister, Dr. Austin Demby, while receiving the consignment on behalf of the government, expressed gratitude to the United States.
He noted that the vaccines would be key to achieving zero cases. “We’ve moved from 2,000 active Mpox cases a few months ago to just 63 currently. This shows the progress made, but now is the time to be cautiously optimistic,” Dr. Demby said.
With this latest contribution, Sierra Leone has now secured 267,000 vaccine doses from international partners—supplied entirely free of charge. The expanded access to vaccines has been credited with sharply reducing daily infections, with some days recording no new cases at all.
Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, is a viral disease that spreads through close physical contact, contaminated materials, and in some cases, animals. Sierra Leone first confirmed cases in 2024, triggering emergency health measures. Since then, the Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other partners, has launched nationwide vaccination campaigns, awareness drives, and strengthened surveillance systems.
The government says continued vigilance is essential, even as transmission slows. Officials have urged the public to complete vaccination schedules and maintain hygiene practices to prevent a resurgence.
