Monkey Pox (Mpox), is slowly spreading across Nigeria, but the Federal Government is set to bring it to an end.
As we speak, the government has announced that the provisional start date for Mpox vaccinations is October 8, 2024.
This was brought to public notice by Remi Adeleke.
Adeleke is the Head of the Public Relations Unit at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
He also mentioned that the vaccine rollout is scheduled to take place from October 3 to 6, 2024.
Mpox Vaccination Program
According to Adeleke, this timeline for vaccine deployment is designed to align with the three to six-week period required for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to complete its regulatory processes.
This includes sampling, traceability, and laboratory analysis, following the receipt of the vaccine on August 27.
The anticipated date for implementing the vaccination program remains October 8, 2024.
His words: “Due to limited available doses (9,980) of the Jynneos MPox vaccine.
The quantities will be slit evenly (1,996 doses) across the five states for implementation.
Specific states for implementation are being evaluated.
Also Read: 7 Tips On How To Protect Yourself From MPox Virus
This is based on the current trend of cases in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.”
He stated that the overall population aimed for in the five states consists of 4,750 individuals, each of whom will be administered two doses spaced 28 days apart.
The Strategy
Adeleke further explained that the targeted demographic includes “close contacts of Mpox cases, healthcare professionals, and individuals with compromised immune systems.”
The head of the PRU also spoke about the vaccination strategy.
To him, two locations will be designated for the vaccination process in each state.
“Fixed posts and special teams, fixed posts at sites within identified infectious diseases referral centres, and special teams to target communities where necessary for close contacts or identified risk groups vaccination.
“Two sites per state to be identified for vaccination. Only clients aged 18 and above will receive the vaccines based on the current strategy,” he said.
The service delivery team is currently assessing the number of additional doses of the Mpox vaccine that will be administered, ensuring that the country can utilise the available stock from the planned donation by the Africa CDC.
On Tuesday, the United States government gave Nigeria 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine.
Jynneos is a vaccine authorised by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent smallpox and mpox in adults aged 18 and older who are at risk of contracting mpox.
