Nigeria has officially commenced its long-awaited mpox vaccination campaign, prioritizing healthcare workers and individuals with weakened immune systems in hospitals across the capital, Abuja. The program, initially scheduled to begin over a month ago, seeks to address the spread of the virus by targeting those at greatest risk.
The country received 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine in August as part of international support from the United States. This delivery followed the World Health Organization (WHO)’s repeated designation of mpox as a global public health emergency over the past two years, underscoring the urgency of containment efforts in endemic regions like Nigeria.
According to a recent WHO report, Nigeria has recorded 94 confirmed mpox cases this year, though no fatalities have been reported. The launch of the vaccination campaign was marked by an event at the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, where healthcare workers in protective gloves and masks administered the first doses to 30 high-risk individuals.
“This is not a mass vaccination program,” explained a representative from the Institute of Human Virology in Abuja. “It is a targeted effort focused on healthcare workers and immunocompromised persons, including people living with HIV.”
The campaign’s initial phase, set to run for 10 days, will focus on Abuja and seven other states, including Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers, which have reported several cases. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to address the mpox outbreak across Africa, with the WHO allocating 899,000 doses to nine of the continent’s most affected nations, including Nigeria.
Health officials have emphasized the importance of this strategic vaccination drive, aiming to bolster protection for frontline workers and vulnerable groups while preventing further spread of the virus. As the campaign rolls out, authorities remain focused on expanding access and monitoring progress to ensure the effectiveness of the initiative.
