United States (US) government, through its Agency for International Development (USAID) has donated 10,000 doses of mpox (formerly referred to as Monkeypox) vaccine to Nigeria to support efforts in responding to the current mpox outbreak.
Mpox is an infectious viral disease that occurs in humans and animals. It can be transmitted through close contact including sexual interaction. The prevention of mpox is through vaccination. Individuals of 18 years of age and older are at high risk of mpox infection.
According to a statement issued by the US embassy, the vaccine is a two-dose primary series for use in persons who have never received smallpox vaccine and a single booster for individuals previously vaccinated with smallpox vaccine.
Ambassador Richard Mills, speaking at the event to hand over the vaccines to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said, “We are pleased to know that this is a timely donation that will reach the affected areas across the country and those who are most vulnerable to mpox infection. “We encourage the government of Nigeria to continue to mobilise domestic resources to secure more vaccines to combat mpox.”
The federal government has prioritised five states (Bayelsa, Edo, Cross-River, Lagos, and Rivers) with the highest burden of mpox cases. The vaccines will be given to those most at risk including close contacts of cases and frontline healthcare workers with a provision for reactive vaccination in other states as the need arises.
On the safety of the vaccine, Ambassador Mills said, “Yes, the vaccine is safe. Safety tests have been conducted during clinical trials, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control reviewed the results of these trials before granting approval for the use of the vaccines in Nigeria.”
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