Zuko Komisa

- South Africa’s Department of Health has launched a targeted Mpox vaccination programme in Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal as confirmed cases rise to ten nationwide.
- The vaccine will be offered at selected health facilities, prioritising close contacts of cases, individuals with multiple sexual partners, and travellers to outbreak areas, with pregnant women and children over two also considered.
- The public is advised to remain alert for Mpox symptoms and seek medical advice for screening, testing, and vaccination eligibility if they suspect exposure.
South Africa’s Department of Health has announced a targeted vaccination drive against Mpox, as the nation observes a gradual increase in laboratory-confirmed cases. The programme will initially focus on the most affected provinces: Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
The decision follows the confirmation of two new cases, bringing the national total to ten since the beginning of 2025.
The latest infections involve a 32-year-old from Cape Town and a 45-year-old from Johannesburg, neither of whom have a history of international travel, suggesting local transmission.
The Department of Health emphasised that vaccination is crucial for controlling the spread of Mpox, a preventable and manageable disease.
Vaccinated individuals are not only protected from infection but also from developing severe complications.
Vaccines will be available at selected public health facilities, travel clinics, and a limited number of private providers within the prioritised provinces.
The department clarified that certain groups will receive vaccination priority. This includes individuals who have had close contact with confirmed cases, those with multiple sexual partners, and travellers heading to areas experiencing Mpox outbreaks.
Where medically indicated, pregnant women and children over the age of two will also be offered the vaccine.
In the meantime, the public is urged to remain vigilant for Mpox symptoms.
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