Mpox vaccination begins today in seven states

The Mpox vaccination will commence today (Monday) in seven states in the country.

This was disclosed exclusively to Punch newspaper by the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, so far in 2024 as of October 27, 2024, 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 is 118 from 28 states and the FCT.

Aina said, “The Mpox vaccination is scheduled to start on November 18, 2024, in about seven states, mostly in the South.

“For the Mpox vaccine, as you know, we’re targeting health workers in a few facilities where Mpox cases are diagnosed and treated. When there are suspected cases, we refer them to facilities, so the health workers there are getting vaccinated. But also contacts, immediate contacts of confirmed cases will be vaccinated. We’ve only had just over 100 cases in Nigeria, so it’s not that bad, but when there are people around them, when it’s confirmed, they are also eligible for the vaccine.

“We’re getting a lot more, but we’re trying to be very judicious.”

The agency had in October listed Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory for the vaccination.

It said, “The Mpox vaccine is expected to be deployed to seven states – Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory. Please note that Bayelsa and River states will commence the vaccination exercise first.

“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 in case of an upsurge in other states.”

The NPHCDA boss also emphasised that malaria vaccination would commence on November 25, 2024.

On August 27, the United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development donated 10,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine to the Federal Government to support its efforts in responding to the current mpox outbreak.

• Punch