Nigeria Receives First Mpox Vaccine Shipment in Africa

By Adebowale Bello. Freelance Health Writer.

Friday, August 30, 2024. Nigeria became the first African nation to receive mpox vaccines outside of clinical trials on August 27, 2024. An initial shipment of 10,000 doses arrived to support the country’s efforts in curbing the viral outbreak. The delivery marks a critical step in addressing the public health emergency that has spread across multiple countries, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a global health threat.

Related: Africa CDC To Declare Mpox A Continental Health Emergency

WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak A Public Health Emergency

The vaccines, known as Jynneos (MVA) and produced by Bavarian Nordic were generously donated by the United States government. These doses will be distributed across five Nigerian states with the highest incidence of mpox —Bayelsa, Edo, Cross-River, Lagos and Rivers— targeting 5,000 individuals at greatest risk, including close contacts of confirmed cases and frontline healthcare workers. The vaccine will be administered in a two-dose regimen with provisions for additional reactive vaccinations in other states if necessary.

“We are grateful for this initial donation of the mpox vaccine which has been proven safe and effective. Our commitment remains steadfast in strengthening surveillance and maintaining vigilance to prevent and control the spread of mpox. We also call on the global health community to expand vaccine access,” stated Hon Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Minister of Health.

Related: WHO Allocates $1m to Strengthen Global Mpox Response

Ahead of the vaccine rollout, Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) granted Emergency Use Authorization for the mpox vaccine. Health authorities have also implemented strategic measures to ensure the vaccines reach high-priority populations promptly.

“The delivery of mpox vaccines to Nigeria represents a vital addition to our ongoing efforts to halt the virus and protect public health. It also exemplifies international solidarity in tackling global health emergencies,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “We deeply appreciate the support from the United States government and look forward to continued global cooperation in effectively addressing the mpox threat.”

Despite this progress, significant gaps in mpox vaccine access persist, particularly in Africa. WHO is actively collaborating with countries and manufacturers to increase vaccine availability. The WHO Director-General has initiated the Emergency Use Listing process to accelerate vaccine access, especially for low-income nations.

Additionally, WHO is partnering with organizations such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF to facilitate donations from countries with existing vaccine stockpiles. This partnership aims to ensure that limited vaccine supplies are deployed where they will have the greatest public health impact.

Nigeria is scaling up critical components of its outbreak response, including enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory capacity and risk communication. WHO is supporting these efforts through early case detection, diagnostics and bolstering cross-border surveillance at major entry points across the country.

In 2024, 12 African countries have reported over 15,000 suspected mpox cases,  more than 3,500 have been laboratory-confirmed and sadly, 26 deaths. WHO continues to work closely with national authorities and partners to enhance response efforts in affected countries and bolster preparedness in those yet to report cases.

Source: WHO Newsroom

Published: August 30, 2024

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