The United States government has donated 10,000 doses of the JYNNEOS Mpox vaccine to Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to support the country’s efforts in controlling the Mpox outbreak.

U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, handed over the vaccines, which were provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in a ceremony on Tuesday.

Ambassador Mills emphasized that the donation is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global emergency. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 40 confirmed cases of Mpox out of 830 suspected cases across various states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The U.S. government understands that a public health threat anywhere is a threat everywhere,” Mills stated. “We prioritize global health security, especially in nations that are most vulnerable.”

Mills praised the Nigerian government for its proactive approach and coordinated response to the outbreak.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has shown a strong commitment to global health security by developing a comprehensive National Mpox Vaccination Strategy and Deployment Plan,” he added. “Nigeria’s commitment to global health security is evident through its enhanced ability to assess, prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats.”

Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of NPHCDA, announced that these are the first Mpox vaccine doses to be introduced in Nigeria, marking a significant step forward. “The arrival of these 10,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine from the United States is a crucial advancement in our preparedness and response to the virus,” he said.

Dr. Aina pointed out that Nigeria experienced a significant Mpox outbreak in 2022 when the country lacked access to vaccines, underscoring the virus’s serious threat to the nation. He also mentioned that the WHO’s declaration of Mpox as a public health emergency highlights the global challenge posed by the disease. Mpox, commonly referred to as Monkeypox, is a rare viral zoonotic disease endemic to the rainforest regions of Central and West Africa.