- The vaccine deployment is scheduled between October 3 and 6, 2024
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has announced that mpox vaccinations in Nigeria will tentatively commence on October 8, 2024.
The Head of Public Relations at NPHCDA, Remi Adeleke, disclosed this on Friday, stating that vaccine deployment is scheduled between October 3 and 6, 2024.
This timeline aligns with the three to six weeks required by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to complete regulatory procedures, including sampling, traceability, and laboratory analysis.
Given the limited availability of doses—only 9,980 of the Jynneos Mpox vaccine—Adeleke explained that the vaccine will be evenly distributed across five states, with each state receiving 1,996 doses. These states are being selected based on the current trend of mpox cases, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The targeted population in these states is 4,750 individuals, who will each receive two doses of the vaccine, administered 28 days apart. The vaccination campaign will primarily focus on close contacts of mpox cases, healthcare workers, and individuals with compromised immune systems.
Adeleke also noted that two vaccination sites will be identified in each state, with the strategy involving fixed posts at infectious disease referral centers and special teams targeting high-risk communities. Only individuals aged 18 and above will be eligible for vaccination under the current plan.
Additionally, Adeleke mentioned that discussions are ongoing with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to secure more doses of the mpox vaccine, which will further support the country’s vaccination efforts.