LAGOS – The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has commenced the vaccination campaign against Mpox in seven pilot states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The vaccination programme aims to protect individuals at high risk of contracting the virus, such as healthcare workers, laboratory personnel, and close contacts of confirmed cases. The vaccine is safe and effective in preventing Mpox infection.
The pilot states include Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Benue, in addition to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
An average of 631 persons are expected to be vaccinated across the seven states with two doses of the Mpox vaccine. A buffer for 50 persons will be kept at the national centre in case of an upsurge in other states.
NPHCDA confirmed the exercise in a statement posted on its verified X account, @NphcdaNG, stressing that the “vaccination will help to protect communities and safeguard the health of the people.”
Nigeria received 10,000 doses of Mpox vaccines on Tuesday, August 26, becoming the first African country to obtain vaccines aimed at combating the spread of the new strain of Mpox virus.
On August 14, 2024, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, chief of the World Health Organisation (WHO), declared the rise of Mpox, formerly monkeypox, a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
Following his announcement, Ghebreyesus said he was working with partners to facilitate equitable access to vaccines.
Recently, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed that there are 1,442 suspected cases of Mpox from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while the number of confirmed cases of the infection was 118 from 28 states and the FCT.
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