The Nigerian government has received a donation of 10,000 doses of Jynneos, an anti-Mpox vaccine, from the United States government.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the vaccine to prevent smallpox and Mpox in young people 18 years of age and older who are at risk of contracting the infection.
On Tuesday, US Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills handed over the vaccine donation to Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
At the event, which took place at the NPHCDA headquarters in Abuja, Permanent Secretary to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachillom, representing the Minister, Muhammad Pate, expressed gratitude to the US Government for the donation.
Ms. Kachillom reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the well-being of Nigerians.
“It is a spirit of cooperation and collaboration over the years, and this vaccine will be of great help to us. The Federal Ministry of Health understands the importance of having a healthy nation, so all the policies we implement and collaborations are focused on ensuring the health of our citizens,” he said.
He also praised development partners, including USAID, PEPFAR, WHO and UNICEF, for their tireless efforts in combating the outbreak.
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“We all recognize the size of our population and we must ensure that we address all diseases, especially those that pose public health problems.
“In this regard, I would like to express our gratitude,” he said.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a rare infectious disease transmitted through contact with infected animals or people. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches and rash. It is usually self-limiting but can lead to serious complications.
Nigeria has recorded 40 confirmed and 830 suspected cases of Mpox across 33 states, including the FCT.
No deaths from Mpox have been recorded in Nigeria.
Nigeria to prioritize high-risk groups
Mr Aina said the plan for distributing vaccine doses received from the US government would prioritise high-risk individuals, including frontline health workers and residents of states with the highest number of cases, mainly in the southern region.
“We believe our frontline health care workers are at particular risk. We are also going to prioritize states that have had the highest number of cases. Many of them are in the South.
“But of course, we’re going to have to work with the states to develop state-specific plans, you know, to make sure that the vaccine is distributed appropriately,” he said.
The NPHCDA director confirmed that the vaccination programme will begin immediately, with micro-planning and implementation undertaken with the states.
Reasons for donating vaccines
Mr. Mills emphasized the importance of health as a key priority for the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.
He said the vaccines would boost Nigeria's efforts to combat the Mpox outbreak, which has been designated a global health emergency by the
He said the U.S. government recognizes that a threat to public health anywhere is a threat to global health, which is why it has prioritized supporting global health security, especially in vulnerable countries.
He also praised the Nigerian government for developing a national Mpox vaccination strategy and plan, demonstrating its commitment to strengthening global health security.
He said the United States remains a dedicated partner of Nigeria, working to improve health care systems and effectively prevent, detect and respond to public health threats.
He said the collaboration would strengthen the capacity of frontline healthcare workers and disseminate accurate health information to Nigerian communities.