Nigeria plans to start mpox vaccinations on Oct. 8, following regulatory approvals, a spokesperson for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency confirmed.
The country received its first shipment of 10,000 mpox vaccine doses from the U.S. Agency for International Development on Tuesday. Nigeria has reported 40 confirmed mpox cases so far, with no deaths.
“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,” said Remi Adeleke, the agency’s spokesperson, to The Punch.
Adeleke noted that the vaccines would undergo regulatory lab analysis for three weeks before being distributed across the five states. A total of 4,750 people are expected to receive two doses each, spaced 28 days apart.
The mpox vaccinations campaign will target those in close contact with mpox cases, healthcare workers, and individuals with compromised immune systems.
