The United States government has donated 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine to Nigeria. The official handover took place on Tuesday in Abuja, marking a key step in addressing the growing public health challenge in the country.
The Jynneos vaccine, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is designed to protect adults aged 18 and older from smallpox and mpox. This donation comes at a crucial time as Nigeria faces increasing concerns over mpox infections.
During the handover ceremony, Prof Muhammad Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, expressed his gratitude to the US government for their support.
Represented by Daju Kachollom, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pate emphasized the importance of international cooperation in tackling health issues.
He said; “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 that we implement and the collaborations are focused on ensuring our citizens’ health.
“The Minister emphasises that all health matters are important to him, and Nigeria is very 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.
“Thank you for the 10,000 doses, and we look forward to receiving more. I also want to thank our development partners, USAID, PEPFAR, WHO, UNICEF, and all the UN organisations. Your collaboration is greatly appreciated, and this will significantly aid those in need.
“We all recognise 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.”
