The United States government has donated 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine to Nigeria to aid in the fight against mpox.
The vaccine, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is for the prevention of smallpox and mpox in adults aged 18 years and older who are at risk of mpox infection.
During the official handover ceremony in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, thanked the US government for the donation. Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, Pate stated, “This is a spirit of cooperation and collaboration through the years, and this vaccine will be of great help to us.”
Pate emphasized the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the well-being of Nigerians, saying, “The Federal Ministry of Health understands the importance of having a healthy nation, so all the policies that we implement and the collaborations are focused on ensuring our citizens’ health.”
Mpox, a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease, has been declared a public health emergency of continental security by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. As of last Friday, Nigeria had recorded 40 confirmed cases of mpox out of 830 suspected cases across the country.
Pate expressed gratitude to the US government, USAID, PEPFAR, WHO, UNICEF, and other UN organisations for their collaboration, saying, “Your collaboration is greatly appreciated, and this will significantly aid those in need.”
