The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has donated 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to Nigeria.
This donation was announced on August 27th by the U.S. consulate in Nigeria to assist in combating the ongoing outbreak of the Mpox virus.
During the handover ceremony to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, U.S. Ambassador, Richard Mills expressed confidence in the positive impact of the vaccine donation. “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,” he stated.
The donated vaccine includes a two-dose primary series for individuals who have never received the smallpox vaccine, along with a single booster dose for those previously vaccinated. The vaccine will primarily be administered to those at the highest risk, including close contacts of confirmed mpox cases and frontline healthcare workers. There are also provisions for reactive vaccination in other states as needed.
This donation comes at a crucial time as the Nigerian government prioritizes vaccination efforts in five states—Bayelsa, Edo, Cross River, Lagos, and Rivers—where the burden of mpox cases is highest.
Ambassador Mills while addressing concerns about the vaccine’s safety, reassured the public, stating, “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 these results before granting approval for the vaccine’s use in Nigeria.”
USAID’s support extends beyond this donation, as the agency continues to provide technical assistance to enhance Nigeria’s capacity for prevention, preparedness, detection, and response to infectious diseases. USAID is also involved in strengthening Nigeria’s primary healthcare and routine immunization systems, alongside broader initiatives in health, education, nutrition, governance, and the rule of law.
In related news, mpox vaccines are expected to arrive in central Africa starting September 1st, 2024, beginning with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has secured 380,000 doses, which will be prioritized for vulnerable populations. A new strain from Congo has caused mpox cases on the continent to rise from 19,000 to nearly 23,000 in one week, with 622 deaths reported.
Gabon has confirmed its first case from a traveler returning from Uganda. Despite the outbreak, non-African nations do not plan to implement travel bans on people coming from Africa.
