US donates 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to Nigeria

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has donated 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to Nigeria to support its efforts in responding to the virus outbreak.

The vaccine is a two-dose primary series for use in persons who have never received smallpox vaccine and a single booster for individuals previously vaccinated with a smallpox vaccine

Mpox is an infectious viral disease that occurs in humans and animals. It can be transmitted through close contact including sexual interactions.

Speaking at the event to hand over the vaccines to the National Primary Healthcare Development (NPHCDA) on Tuesday in Abuja, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, said that the vaccine is a timely donation that will reach the affected areas across the country and those who are most vulnerable to mpox infection.

The envoy urged the Federal Government to continue to mobilize domestic resources to secure more vaccines to combat mpox.”

The Federal Government has prioritized five states of Bayelsa, Edo, Cross-River, Lagos, and Rivers with the highest burden of mpox cases.

The vaccines will be given to those most at risk of mpox including close contacts of mpox cases and frontline healthcare workers with a provision for reactive vaccination in other states as the need arises.

When questioned on the safety of the vaccine, Ambassador Mills remarked, “Yes, the vaccine is safe. Safety tests have been conducted during clinical trials, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control reviewed the results of these trials before granting approval for the use of the vaccines in Nigeria.”

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He assured that the USAID will continue to provide technical support and collaborate with the Government of Nigeria to improve prevention, preparedness, detection, response, and resilience to infectious disease outbreaks.

USAID is also supporting the Government of Nigeria with strengthening primary health care and routine immunization systems as well as supporting overall systems strengthening including health, education, nutrition, governance systems, and the rule of law.

The Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr Muyi Aina stated that the arrival of the 10,000 doses of the Jynneos MPOX vaccine represents a crucial step forward in our preparedness and response efforts against this formidable virus in Nigeria.

He noted that Nigeria experienced a significant outbreak of MPOX in 2022, which brought into sharp focus the very real threat this disease poses to our communities adding that the recent declaration by the World Health Organization of MPOX as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern further emphasized the global nature of this challenge.

Aina observed that the recent resurgence of cases in the country underscores the ongoing threat posed by this virus and the urgent need for continued vigilance and proactive measures.