Sierra Leone has begun administering mpox vaccines to frontline healthcare workers, high-risk individuals, and children aged 12 and above following the acquisition of 61,300 doses from global health organizations.

Amanda Clemens, social mobilization coordinator for the health ministry, announced the vaccination rollout, starting in the Western Area. "We are focusing on frontline healthcare workers and high-risk groups in this initial phase. As more resources become available, the vaccination program will expand to other regions," Clemens explained.

At the official launch, over 100 healthcare workers at the 34 Military Hospital, where mpox cases are diagnosed and treated, received their vaccine doses and vaccination cards.

According to the National Public Health Agency, Sierra Leone has recorded 125 mpox cases—96 males and 29 females—resulting in 71 active cases, 52 recoveries, and two fatalities.

Health Minister Dr. Austin Demby reaffirmed the government's commitment to combating the outbreak. "As a show of confidence in the vaccine's safety and effectiveness, I will be the first to receive the mpox vaccination. We will continue rigorous surveillance and testing to contain the spread," Demby stated.

Authorities previously declared a public health emergency in January and tightened border surveillance after confirming two cases of mpox, a viral disease related to smallpox.

First identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, mpox remained largely confined to parts of Africa until it began spreading globally in 2022. The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency in 2024 in response to the escalating outbreak.

Sierra Leone has faced severe public health crises in the past, including the devastating Ebola epidemic from 2014 to 2016, which claimed nearly 4,000 lives, including many healthcare workers. The government hopes that this vaccination campaign will help curb the mpox outbreak and prevent further fatalities.