Mpox vaccination to commence October 8
Vaccinations for mpox will start from October 8 after regulatory approvals are granted, Spokesperson for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Remi Adeleke, said on Saturday.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), had on Tuesday, delivered the first batch of 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to the Federal Government.
“Due to limited available doses (9,980) of the Jynneos MPox vaccine, the quantities will be split evenly (1,996 doses) across the five states for implementation,” Adeleke, told The Punch newspaper.
He said following a three-week period of regulatory lab examination, 4,750 people would receive two doses of each vaccine, spaced 28 days apart, in five different states.
According to Adeleke, those in close proximity to Mpox cases, healthcare professionals, and those with weakened immune systems are the target demographic for the immunisations.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has granted Emergency Use Authorization for the mpox vaccine.
So far, 40 cases of mpox have been confirmed in the country. No deaths have been recorded.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Mpox is an infectious disease. It causes a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy
It is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV).
A global outbreak of the disease started in 2022, continuing to the present time.
As of August 2024, outbreaks of mpox has also been detected beyond Africa.
