Lara Adejoro, Abuja
The United States Government on Tuesday donated 10,000 doses of Jynneos vaccine to Nigeria in support of the Federal Government’s efforts to control the spread of mpox in the country.
Jynneos is a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration for prevention of smallpox and mpox in adults 18 years of age and older determined to be at risk for mpox infection.
Speaking during the official handover of the mpox vaccine to Nigeria in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate thanked the U.S government for the donation and said the Federal Government is committed to improving the well-being of Nigerians.
Pate, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom said, “This is a spirit of cooperation and collaboration through the years, and this vaccine that has been brought to us will be of great help to us. The Federal Ministry of Health knows the importance of having a healthy nation so all the policies that we put in place and the collaborations have to do with ensuring that our citizens are healthy.
“The Minister says everything we do in health matters to him and Nigeria is very fortunate to have such a potential as the Coordinating Minister and Dr Tunji Alausa as the Minister of State for Health, and together, we are transforming the health sector.
“Thank you for the 10,000 doses and we look towards getting more, and I want to thank our development partners, the USAID, PEPFAR, WHO, UNICEF, all the UN organisations. I want to say thank you for the collaboration, and this will go a long way to help those who are in need.
“We all know how large our population is, and we need to ensure that we meet every disease in the world, especially those that have to do with public health concerns, and on this note, I would like to say thank you very much.”
Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease (i.e. an infection transmitted from animals to humans) that occurs sporadically, primarily in remote villages of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. It is caused by the mpox virus which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (the cause of smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the vaccine for smallpox eradication), and cowpox virus (used in earlier smallpox vaccines). Following the eradication of smallpox, monkeypox virus has emerged as the most important Orthopoxvirus.
On 13 August 2024, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared Mpox a public health emergency of continental security, acting under its mandate to address significant public health threats.
As of last Friday, the Nigeria Centre of Disease Control and Prevention reported that Nigeria had recorded a total of 40 confirmed cases of mpox out of 830 suspected cases across the country.
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills said health is one of the biggest priorities at the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Mission.
“I’m very pleased to be here today on the occasion of this handover of 10,000 doses of MPox vaccines donated by the U.S. government through the U.S. Agency for International Development. These vaccines are going to support the government of Nigeria’s response to the current Mpox outbreak, which has been declared, as we just heard, a global emergency by the World Health Organisation.
“The U.S. government believes that a global public health threat in one place, a public health threat in any part of the world, is a global health threat for all of us. So that’s why we have prioritised support for global health security, particularly in countries that are most vulnerable.”
Mills emphasised that that the FG has also shown its steadfast commitment to strengthening global health security by developing a national Mpox vaccination strategy, and development plan.
“I salute the government for doing that. Let me say the U.S. government, through USAID, remains a committed partner to the government of Nigeria, a partner to strengthen systems and effectively present, detect, and respond to public health threats.
“Our projects that we have with the Nigerian government strengthen the capacity of frontline healthcare workers and disseminates accurate communication messages on health care, health care issues of all kinds to Nigerian communities. I am very 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.
“I applaud the government of Nigeria once more for your leadership in working with USAID to secure and deliver these 10,000 doses of lifesaving vaccines,” he added.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Muyi Aina said the donation of the Mpox vaccine is a critical step in Nigeria’s response and preparedness towards the virus.
He said the recent declaration by the WHO as a public health emergency of Mpox further emphasised the global nature of the challenge, but the need for countries to take it seriously, and have a good plan to protect their people.
“I believe this 10,000 doses of vaccine is really a step in the direction of helping us keep it that way. Today’s handover ceremony symbolises more than the transfer of vaccines, it exemplifies our international cooperation in addressing global health challenges, and local health challenges. We are immensely grateful to the government and good people of the United States for this gesture of brotherhood. We are aware that this vaccine is not exactly in surplus supply. I believe we’re getting 10,000 of the about 200,000 doses that are available globally; it’s the information that was made available to me.
“Your generous donation reinforces the commitment of the United States to helping the government of Nigeria as we seek to make health available universally to all Nigerians. The NPHCDA, on behalf of the government of Nigeria is committed to judicious and efficient use of these vaccines.
“We have a plan to prioritise based on the most affected states. We have identified the most vulnerable sub-populations including care workers, and immediate contact of confirmed cases, and these are the people that we will be prioritising on a few highest priority states.”
The NPHCDA boss further said the vaccination is just one component of the response strategy as the agency will continue to work with the NCDC to mount a good surveillance programme for the disease.
“We will work with all of our partners to intensify public awareness, and education of Nigerians. This fight is a collective action. We urge all sectors, all of our partners of UNICEF, USAID, USCDC, and other partners to join as we fight this virus,” he added.
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