Mpox Vaccine: Nigeria gets 10,000 doses from U.S. amid growing health concerns
The United States donated 10,000 doses of Jynneos vaccine to Nigeria on Tuesday, August 27, as part of efforts to combat the spread of mpox in the country.
Jynneos, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is used to prevent smallpox and mpox in adults aged 18 and older who are at risk of infection.
This donation followed recent statements from the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC), which highlighted the alarming spread of mpox across Africa.
Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, with two distinct clades: Clade I and Clade II. The disease can be transmitted through close contact, such as sexual activity, skin-to-skin contact, and respiratory droplets from talking or breathing close to another person.
The ICIR reports that Tanzania has recently recorded a significant surge in mpox cases, according to a statement from the Africa CDC on Friday, August 23.
These cases were primarily detected in the regions of Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, raising concerns that the virus could spread to other parts of the country if not swiftly contained.
The development adds to the continent’s growing health crisis, with more than 21,000 mpox cases and nearly 600 deaths reported across 13 African countries since the start of 2024.
During the official handover ceremony in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, expressed gratitude to the U.S. government for its timely support.
Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, emphasized the federal government’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of Nigerians.
“This is a spirit of cooperation and collaboration through 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.”
“The minister emphasizes that all health matters are important to him, and Nigeria is fortunate to have such a dedicated Coordinating Minister and Dr. Tunji Alausa as the Minister of State for Health. Together, we are transforming the health sector.”
The minister further stated that the country looks forward to receiving more doses of the vaccine from the U.S. government, adding that this support would significantly aid those in need.
“We all recognize the size of our population, and we must ensure that we address every disease, especially those that pose public health concerns. On this note, I would like to extend our gratitude.”
Currently, the outbreak has spread to 16 countries on the continent, with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and South Africa recording the highest number of infections.
Recall that the World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency on August 14, for the second time in two years.
The declaration followed an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo that had spread to neighboring countries.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.
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