Nigeria, first African country to receive mpox vaccine – WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that Nigeria was the first African country to receive the mpox vaccine.

The WHO regional office said in a statement that Nigeria received 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to contain the spread of the new variant of the mpox virus on Tuesday.

The United States government has donated the Jynneos vaccine (MVA) to Nigeria and will distribute it to five states where the most cases of mpox have been detected.

The United Nations health agency on August 14 declared mpox a global public health emergency.

Following the announcement, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said he was working with partners to facilitate equitable access to vaccines.

The MVA vaccine will be given to 5,000 people most at risk of contracting the virus in a two-dose schedule.

“This includes ‘close contacts of mpox cases and frontline health care workers, with the provision of reactive vaccination in another state if necessary.

“The delivery of mpox vaccines to Nigeria is not only an important addition to the measures already underway to stop the virus and protect health, but also a visible demonstration of international solidarity in the face of a global public health emergency,” said WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti.

He lamented that “there are still serious gaps in access to mpox vaccines” in Africa.

Nigeria had 39 confirmed cases of mpox as of August 10.

Nigeria first African country to receive mpox vaccine – WHO first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.