By: Mohamed Sahr
In a major effort to curb and eventually eradicate Mpox across the country, the Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, and with support from GAVI, has received an additional 50,000 Mpox vaccine doses. The consignment arrived on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Freetown International Airport.
Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health commended the partnership efforts that have been instrumental in managing the Mpox outbreak, noting that reported cases continue to decline. He emphasized the importance of collaborative action in intensifying the fight against the disease.
“Our strategy focuses on timely diagnosis and the management of cases in proper healthcare facilities,” Dr. Demby stated. “We are committed to reaching communities to ensure that there is no secondary transmission.”
He added that the combination of vaccines and preventive measures such as early identification, hand hygiene, and social distancing could lead to the complete containment of the disease.
Dr. Demby confirmed that the vaccines are safe, effective, and will be provided free of charge. He highlighted that although the number of doses is limited, they will be distributed judiciously prioritizing close contacts of confirmed cases and individuals at the highest risk of transmission.
“These vaccines are a key intervention, alongside our continued efforts in community surveillance and public health education,” he said. “If all measures are implemented successfully, we are hopeful of reaching zero cases.”
Dr. George Ameh, WHO Country Representative, shared that since the start of the Mpox response, Sierra Leone has received over 135,000 vaccine doses, with the newly arrived 50,000 bringing the total to approximately 208,000.
“Our joint efforts have enabled the deployment of integrated teams across all districts to identify cases at the community level, supported by the toll-free number 117,” Dr. Ameh explained.
He added that more than 53% of administered doses have reached identified contacts, and the new shipment will continue to support this targeted approach.
“Despite the global scarcity of Mpox vaccines, GAVI’s support is a vote of confidence in the work being done by the Government of Sierra Leone and its development partners,” he affirmed.
Liv Elin Indreiten, UNICEF Deputy Country Representative, stated that the arrival of the additional doses significantly boosts the country’s capacity to protect vulnerable populations and prevent further spread.
She praised the strong partnership between the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), WHO, UNICEF, and other organizations.
“There has been a robust, coordinated effort to combat the outbreak, and we are focused not only on containment but also on preparing for future outbreaks,” she noted.
With the latest consignment, Sierra Leone has received nearly 208,000 Mpox vaccines. The Ministry of Health and its partners are optimistic that, with ongoing coordination and community engagement, the country can bring the outbreak under control and build stronger health systems for future challenges.
