Freetown, 19 March 2025 – With 115 confirmed Mpox cases in Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) and with support from WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Africa CDC, and other health partners, has launched a nationwide Mpox vaccination campaign. The launch event brought together paramount and community chiefs, civil society representatives, the media, nurses, vaccinators, senior leadership of the Ministry of Health and NPHA, and key stakeholders from the health sector. 

A total of 61,300 vaccine doses have been secured, prioritizing at-risk populations, including healthcare workers and hotspot communities. Demonstrating confidence in the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness, Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby led by example as the first person to be vaccinated. “This is a great joy for me—we are adding a new tool to fight Mpox. The vaccine is safe, approved by the Pharmacy Board and NITAG, and will help us break the chain of transmission,” he stated. The Minister emphasized the importance of public participation, urging communities to report suspected cases. “The disease is inside our communities, so our response must be within the communities. If you identify any suspected case, please call 117—this should be your number one responsibility.”

WHO Representative Dr. George Ameh commended the initiative, highlighting that the vaccine complements other interventions such as surveillance and case management. “This is history in the making. The Mpox vaccine was prequalified last year, and today, we already have a significant quantity available. The vaccine is safe and effective, as evidenced by its use in the DRC,” he said. Dr. George also praised the MoH and NPHA for their efforts, acknowledging the hybrid approach of vaccinating both healthcare workers and hotspot communities.

NPHA Executive Directive Prof. Foday Sahr expressed optimism about the campaign’s impact. “We are happy to have these vaccines to continue the response. Surveillance, testing, and case management remain critical, and we appreciate the valuable support from our partners. We hope this collaboration continues, and I pledge that NPHA will do everything possible to stop the transmission of the virus,” he affirmed.

The Minister further stressed the importance of preventive measures, reminding citizens that, alongside the vaccine, improving hand hygiene and early case detection are crucial. “With all that we have done so far, this vaccine is an additional tool to prevent infections and reduce severe disease,” he added.

The government, alongside health partners, reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring widespread vaccination and effective disease management, calling on community leaders to support the campaign and help identify cases.