There are no vaccines for mpox available in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of a global health emergency declared last week, even though the country first asked for the shots two years ago and the manufacturers say they have supplies. “The most important thing we need right now are the vaccines,” said Dr. Samuel-Roger Kamba, health minister of Congo. They are trapped in a byzantine drug regulatory process at the World Health Organization. Three years after the last worldwide mpox outbreak, the W.H.O. still has neither officially approved the vaccines — although the United States and Europe have — nor has it issued an emergency use license that would speed access.

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Persons: ”, Samuel, Roger Kamba Organizations: Democratic, World Health Organization Locations: Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, United States, Europe