Photo Credit:Andrew Esiebo
Nigeria has become the first African nation to receive a shipment of mpox vaccines, with 10,000 doses arriving to help combat the current outbreak of the disease, which was previously known as monkeypox. The vaccines, donated by the United States, mark a significant step in the fight against the virus, especially as Africa remains the hardest-hit region in the ongoing epidemic.
The West African nation has recorded 40 confirmed cases of mpox this year, but officials believe the true number could exceed 700. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported in Nigeria, and the country has also avoided cases of the Clade 1b variant, a new strain detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and neighboring countries. DR Congo, in contrast, has reported over 18,000 suspected mpox cases and 615 deaths in 2023 alone.
The vaccine rollout in Nigeria will prioritize health workers and at-risk communities across the 13 states affected by the virus. Despite these efforts, there remains a significant need for vaccines across Africa, with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that at least 10 million doses are required continent-wide, particularly in DR Congo.
Mpox, which can be fatal if untreated, causes symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and lesions. The delay in delivering vaccines to Africa has been criticized by health officials, with some blaming the World Health Organization's (WHO) regulatory process for being overly cautious. The WHO has yet to officially approve the available smallpox vaccines for mpox, citing a lack of sufficient data, though it is expected to grant emergency licenses by September.
This first delivery of vaccines to Nigeria comes after an early push by Nigerian health officials following the onset of the 2022 outbreak. However, critics argue that more rapid global cooperation, especially from wealthier nations with stockpiled vaccines, could have accelerated the process.
