By Ibrahim Sorie Koroma, Senior Health Education Officer –HEP/MoH
A total of 133,710 individuals across Sierra Leone have received the first dose of the Mpox vaccine through two rounds of reactive vaccination campaigns, according to data from the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) under the Ministry of Health.
The figures indicate that males account for 52 percent (69,529) of those vaccinated, while females represent 48 percent (64,181).
The largest portion of vaccinated individuals accounts for 77 percent (102,957) within the age group of 20-49, a category that includes healthcare workers, known Mpox contacts, and other high-risk populations.
The EPI Programme reports that vaccination coverage has generally been encouraging with Western Area Urban, which remains the epicenter of confirmed Mpox cases, recorded the highest vaccination rates, while Bonthe District registered the lowest.
With a recent rise in Mpox cases, health officials emphasize that reactive vaccination remains an effective measure to curb transmission. The approach has shown promising results in reducing both incidence and prevalence in recent weeks.
Sierra Leone confirmed its first Mpox case in February 2025, prompting an outbreak declaration. In response, the Ministry of Health through the Expanded Programme on Immunization, applied for vaccine support from the Global Alliance for Vaccines Initiatives (GAVI). This led to the launch of the national Mpox vaccination campaign in March 2025.
To date, Sierra Leone has received a total of 153,300 Mpox vaccine doses, including 58,300 from GAVI, 20,000 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and 75,000 from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to Desmond Maada Kangbai, Manager of the EPI Programme at the Ministry of Health, the country is expected to receive an additional 20,000 doses to sustain efforts in breaking the chain of transmission.
