Nigeria, along with eight other African countries, has received a total of 899,000 Mpox vaccine doses as part of a coordinated effort to tackle the ongoing outbreaks. This allocation was announced on Thursday by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), which is working with several partners, including UNICEF, Gavi, and the World Health Organization (WHO), to distribute the vaccines effectively.
The vaccine distribution is part of the Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) for Mpox, which aims to control the current surge of the virus in affected regions. The allocation was made after consultations with affected countries and donors, ensuring that the vaccines reach those most in need. The decision to allocate doses was based on country readiness and the epidemiological situation, as recommended by an independent committee of experts.
The nine countries receiving the doses are the Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been hardest hit by the outbreak, will receive the largest share, with 85% of the vaccines going to the country. The DRC has reported the majority of Mpox cases in Africa this year, with over 38,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 deaths.
The vaccines, donated by Canada, the European Union, and the United States, along with other global partners, are seen as a vital tool in controlling the Mpox outbreaks. WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency in August, and Africa CDC also recognized it as a regional emergency. The outbreak has now affected 19 African countries, many of which are newly impacted by the disease.
Vaccination, along with timely testing, diagnosis, clinical care, and community engagement, is a key strategy in preventing further spread. The deployment of these vaccines is expected to reduce transmission and help contain the outbreaks. In the coming months, additional vaccine allocations are expected to further support the response efforts, with over 5.85 million doses projected to be available by the end of 2024.
This coordinated vaccine rollout marks a significant step in the fight against Mpox, and the international community continues to work together to ensure timely and targeted delivery of resources to the affected regions.
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