Angela Onwuzoo and Lara Adejoro As Nigeria records no fewer than 40 cases of mpox, Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jide Idris, has said that 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine for the control of the viral infection may arrive in the country in September. However, Idris noted that these doses would be insufficient for a country with a population exceeding 200 million people. During an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Idris explained that the doses would be prioritised and distributed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to only vulnerable populations and high-risk groups.
“We don’t know exactly when the vaccine will arrive in Nigeria, but I think it may be next month (September). The NCDC doesn’t handle vaccines; it is the NPHCDA that manages vaccines, “They are responsible for the distribution. We collaborate with them on the distribution pattern and the prioritisation of the vaccine,” he said.
He also mentioned that the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was expecting approximately 10 million doses of the vaccine and might allocate two million doses to Nigeria if a request was made. “I have discussed with the DG of NPHCDA about making that request. However, I’m not suggesting that the Africa CDC currently has the two million doses, as they are also applying for 10 million doses,” Idris noted.
He emphasised that the vaccine was intended for emergency use only and maintained that the 10,000 .