Nigeria first in Africa to receive mpox vaccines, says WHO

Agency The World Health Organisation has said Nigeria is the first country in Africa to receive mpox vaccines, aimed at containing the spread of the new strain of the virus. WHO in a statement on Tuesday stated that Nigeria received 10,000 doses of mpox vaccines. On Aug.

14 the chief of the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the rise of mpox, formerly monkeypox, a public health emergency of international concern. Following his announcement, the chief, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said he was working with partners to facilitate equitable vaccine access. The United States government has donated the Jynneos vaccine to Nigeria, and it is set to be distributed in five of the country’s states, where the most mpox cases have been detected.

“We are pleased to receive this modest initial donation of the mpox vaccine, which is safe and efficacious,” Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, said. “We will continue to strengthen surveillance and be vigilant to prevent and control mpox.” The MVA vaccine will be given to 5,000 people most at risk of the virus in a two-dose schedule.

This includes “close contacts of mpox cases and frontline healthcare workers, with a provision for reactive vaccination in other states as when needed”, according to WHO’s regional office for Africa. While waiting for the vaccines to be administered, Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has approved the vaccine’s emergency use. “The delivery of the .