US donates 10000 Mpox vaccine doses to Nigeria

The United States government donated 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine to Nigeria on Tuesday.

This vaccine, 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 mpox infection.

During the official handover ceremony in Abuja, Professor Muhammad Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, expressed gratitude to the U.S. government for its generous donation.

He also emphasized the Federal Government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of the Nigerian population.

Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, 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.”

Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease (i.e. an infection transmitted from animals to humans) that occurs sporadically, primarily in remote villages of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. It is caused by the mpox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.

The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes the variola virus (the cause of smallpox), the vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox eradication vaccine), and the cowpox virus (used in earlier smallpox vaccines). Following the eradication of smallpox, the mpox virus has emerged as the most significant Orthopoxvirus.

On August 13, 2024, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared mpox a public health emergency of continental security, acting under its mandate to address significant public health threats.

As of last Friday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported that Nigeria had recorded a total of 40 confirmed cases of mpox out of 830 suspected cases across the country.