Nigeria gets donation of 10,000 doses of mpox vaccine

The United States of America has donated 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine to the Nigerian government to tackle the mpox outbreak in Nigeria.

The vaccines were handed over to Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, during a ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Jynneos vaccine, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, helps prevent smallpox and mpox in adults aged 18 and above who are at risk of mpox infection.

Last week, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed 40 cases of mpox in the country, with no reported deaths.

Pate, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, expressed gratitude to the U.S. government and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the health and well-being of its citizens.

The minister 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.

“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.”