In a landmark move for the nation’s public health, Cameroon officially launched its first-ever vaccination campaign against Mpox (monkeypox) on April 11, 2026.

The ceremony took place at the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, marking a strategic shift in the national response to the virus. Presided over by the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, the event saw the symbolic administration of the first doses, aimed at curbing the spread of a disease that has seen unprecedented global movement since 2022.

The Littoral region has emerged as the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for 26 of the 40 confirmed cases nationwide—approximately 65% of the total burden. Consequently, the campaign is heavily concentrated in this region, covering 11 health districts. Health officials, including the Regional Delegate for Public Health, Dr. Saurel Ngo’o Mebe, emphasized that the strategy is built on the response’s ability to reinvent itself, focusing resources where the chain of transmission is most active.

Support from international partners have been instrumental in this rollout. UNICEF donated a total of 3,700 doses of the vaccine to the affected districts and continues to lead efforts in risk communication and community engagement to ensure public acceptance.

While the World Health Organization – WHO expressed cautious optimism that the global situation is becoming better controlled, Cameroonian authorities were quick to point out that current stocks do not yet allow for mass vaccination.

The campaign is strictly targeted toward high-risk groups, including healthcare workers, epidemiologists, and vulnerable individuals within high-risk communities. Minister Malachie reassured the public that while the virus is present, no deaths have been recorded in Cameroon to date.

This vaccination phase acts as a vital complement to existing preventative measures—such as hand hygiene and case isolation—with the ultimate goal of breaking the transmission chain and preventing new outbreaks in other regions.