By Adeyemi Adekunle
Nigeria is set to receive its first batch of Mpox vaccines today, with 11,200 doses donated by the United States and facilitated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The vaccines, shipped to Abuja, mark a critical step in bolstering Nigeria’s response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak, which has affected several African nations.
The announcement was made on Friday in a statement by Gavi’s CEO, Dr. Sania Nishtar, following an agreement signed in November to facilitate the global distribution of 305,000 doses of Mpox vaccine. The initiative, part of a broader U.S. commitment to donate up to one million doses, underscores international collaboration in containing the outbreak.
The vaccines, manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, have been allocated through the Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM), a coalition led by Africa CDC, CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO). Nigeria is among nine African nations prioritized in the first allocation round of 899,000 doses, targeting regions hardest hit by the Mpox outbreak.
Dr. Nishtar emphasized the importance of the U.S. donation in addressing the emergency. “We thank the U.S. for these donations, which substantially strengthen the global Mpox response. In addition to the 500,000 doses Gavi directly procured in September through the First Response Fund, we now have frameworks to facilitate additional pledged doses,” she said. “We will work with partners to ensure the vaccines are rolled out as quickly as possible.”
The First Response Fund, launched this year, serves as a financial tool to ensure swift vaccine procurement and delivery, a lesson learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Gavi will also cover delivery costs for doses procured or facilitated under this initiative.
U.S. Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Dawn O’Connell, reiterated America’s commitment to curbing Mpox globally. “Viruses don’t respect borders, and international coordination remains a top priority for us,” O’Connell said. “This donation builds on the U.S. government’s pledge to provide over a million Mpox vaccines to communities dealing with the outbreak.”
The vaccines arriving in Nigeria are part of the larger global response effort aimed at providing six million doses by the end of 2024. The allocation is particularly critical for African nations where Mpox has caused significant public health concerns.
The latest Mpox outbreak, declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in August, has underscored the need for robust international cooperation and equitable vaccine distribution. The collaborative efforts of organizations such as Gavi, Africa CDC, and WHO aim to ensure that vulnerable countries have access to life-saving vaccines.
The arrival of the 11,200 doses in Nigeria is expected to bolster efforts to contain the virus, particularly in regions with the highest infection rates. Health authorities in Nigeria will work with international partners to ensure the efficient rollout of the vaccines to target populations, including healthcare workers and vulnerable groups.
