FG Announces Date To Begin Monkeypox Vaccinations

The Nigerian government has announced that Monkeypox (Mpox) vaccinations will commence on October 8, 2024. Remi Adeleke, Head of the Public Relations Unit at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), confirmed the start date in a statement released on Friday.

The vaccination rollout is scheduled for October 3-6, 2024, to allow for the regulatory review period by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) after the vaccine’s arrival on August 27.

EDITOR’S PICKS

EKO HOT BLOG reports that with only 9,980 doses of the Jynneos Mpox vaccine available, each of the five selected states will receive 1,996 doses.

These states are being chosen based on current case trends in partnership with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

The program aims to target around 4,750 individuals, with each receiving two doses, spaced 28 days apart. Priority will be given to close contacts of Mpox cases, healthcare workers, and individuals with compromised immune systems.

Vaccinations will be carried out at two designated sites per state, including fixed posts at infectious disease referral centers and mobile teams for community outreach. Only individuals aged 18 and older will be eligible for the vaccine under this initiative.

The service delivery team is also preparing to incorporate additional doses from a planned donation by the Africa CDC. This follows the recent donation of 10,000 Jynneos vaccine doses from the U.S. government.

Mpox, a rare viral disease primarily affecting remote regions of Central and West Africa, was declared a public health emergency of continental significance by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on August 13, 2024.