The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in Nigeria is set to begin its mpox vaccination campaign on October 8, 2024. This initiative comes in response to the recent increase in mpox cases, which have risen to 48 across 35 local government areas in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
Remi Adeleke, Head of the Public Relations Unit at the NPHCDA, noted that the campaign will be preceded by a preparatory vaccine deployment phase from October 3 to 6. This phase aligns with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s (NAFDAC) regulatory processes, including the sampling, traceability, and laboratory analysis of the vaccines. The mpox vaccine, Jynneos, was donated by the US government, and 10,000 doses are expected to be utilized for this campaign.
The vaccination effort will focus on five states, chosen based on current mpox case trends in collaboration with the NCDC. A total of 9,980 doses will be distributed, with each state receiving 1,996 doses. The campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 4,750 individuals, including health workers, close contacts of mpox cases, and people with weakened immune systems. Each eligible person will receive two doses of the vaccine, administered 28 days apart.
Vaccinations will take place at designated sites, including infectious disease referral centers and through mobile teams targeting communities and high-risk groups. Only individuals aged 18 and above will be eligible for vaccination under this phase. The NPHCDA also mentioned that additional doses are expected from the Africa CDC, with details yet to be finalized.
