Nigeria has initiated its long-awaited mpox vaccination program on Monday, November 18th.
The campaign, originally scheduled for October, commenced with the administration of vaccines to healthcare workers and immunocompromised individuals at hospitals in Abuja.
Despite being endemic to Nigeria, the country has reported 94 confirmed mpox cases and no fatalities since the beginning of 2024.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency for the second time in two years, prompting Nigeria to receive its initial batch of 10,000 vaccine doses from the United States.
The vaccination drive at the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja saw 30 individuals receiving mpox shots, marking the official start of the campaign.
The focus is on targeted vaccination for healthcare workers and people living with HIV.
The initial phase of the program, spanning 10 days, will concentrate on Abuja and seven states, including oil-producing regions like Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers, where a significant number of cases have been identified.
The WHO has allocated 899,000 vaccine doses to nine African nations most affected by the recent mpox surge.
