The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has announced October 8, 2024, as the tentative date to commence vaccination against mpox in Nigeria.
This follows the donation of 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine by the United States government on Tuesday.
Remi Adeleke, Head of the Public Relations Unit at NPHCDA, revealed that vaccine deployment will begin from October 3 to 6, 2024. He explained that the deployment timeline aligns with the regulatory procedures of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Adeleke stated that the target population for vaccination includes close contacts of mpox cases, health workers, and persons with low immune status. He added that two sites per state will be identified for vaccination, with fixed posts and special teams deployed to target communities where necessary.
Adeleke noted that additional doses of the Mpox vaccine are expected from the Africa CDC planned donation, but the exact quantity is still being determined. He emphasized that only clients aged 18 and above will receive the vaccines, which will be administered in two doses, 28 days apart.
Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Nigeria has recorded 48 confirmed cases of Mpox out of 868 suspected cases across 35 local government areas in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared Mpox a public health emergency of continental security on August 13, 2024.
