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. 2022 Nov 30;18(6):2127272.
doi: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2127272. Epub 2022 Sep 27.

Challenges to COVID-19 vaccine introduction in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a commentary

Trésor Zola Matuvanga  1 , Reena H Doshi  2 , Albert Muya  3 , Aimé Cikomola  1 , Augustin Milabyo  1 , Pablito Nasaka  4 , Patrick Mitashi  5 , Hypolite Muhindo-Mavoko  5 , Steve Ahuka  6 , Michel Nzaji  1 , Nicole A Hoff  7 , Robert Perry  2 , Elisabeth Mukamba Musenga  1
Affiliations

Challenges to COVID-19 vaccine introduction in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a commentary

Trésor Zola Matuvanga et al. Hum Vaccin Immunother. .

Abstract

COVID-19 vaccination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) began in April 2021. A month later, most COVID-19 vaccine doses were reallocated to other African countries, due to low vaccine uptake and the realization that the doses would expire before use. Based on data available on 13 August 2022, 2.76% of the DRC population had been fully vaccinated with last dose of primary series of COVID-19 vaccine, placing the country second to last in Africa and in the last five in global COVID-19 vaccination coverage. The DRC's reliance on vaccine donations requires continuous adaptation of the vaccine deployment plan to match incoming COVID-19 vaccines shipments. Challenges in planning vaccine deployments, vaccinating priority populations, coordinating, and implementing the communications plan, disbursing funds, and conducting supervision of vaccination activities have contributed to low COVID-19 vaccine coverage. In addition, the spread of rumors through social media and by various community and religious leaders resulted in high levels of vaccine hesitancy. A strong risk communication and community engagement plan, coupled with innovative efforts to target the highest-risk populations are critical to increase vaccine uptake during the next phase of COVID-19 vaccine introduction.

Keywords: COVID -19 vaccine; Challenges; DRC; first phase; vaccine deployment.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Timeline of COVID-19 vaccine introduction events in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2021.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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