Nigeria, along with 16 other African countries, to receive support from the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to enhance mpox vaccine preparedness amid a shortage of supplies.
Experts from both organizations have pledged to support the development of targeted mpox vaccine preparedness and deployment plans to ensure the efficient use of available doses.
This commitment was made during a meeting last week in Brazzaville, where country representatives and partners convened to discuss the way forward.
In a statement on Sunday, the Africa CDC noted that, in anticipation of further mpox vaccine deliveries to the African region in the coming months, countries have requested assistance in identifying and mapping mpox hotspots based on local epidemiology, as well as in planning targeted vaccination strategies to reach populations at risk.
“During the meeting, WHO and Africa CDC experts provided countries with the latest information on WHO recommendations and a set of tools to guide mpox vaccination plan development.
“Both organizations have made concerted efforts to help countries acquire vaccines amid ongoing outbreaks. The WHO added the MVA-BN vaccine to its prequalification list on September 13, 2024, and established an Access and Allocation Mechanism to improve access to vaccines, treatments, and tests where they are most needed,” the statement added.
“Given the ongoing difficulties with bringing the outbreak under control using traditional public health measures, the need for effective mpox vaccine preparedness and deployment plans has become urgent.
“With the mpox vaccine supply constraints, countries will need to develop very targeted deployment plans, guided by local epidemiology,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, praised the rapid and coordinated efforts across the continent, saying, “The swift actions of countries across Africa to roll out targeted mpox vaccination strategies reflect an extraordinary commitment to protecting those most vulnerable. Achieving this progress within a short window of time underscores the ambition and resilience of our member states to halt transmission and safeguard at-risk populations.
“This momentum speaks to the power of collaboration across the continent and with our global partners. Africa CDC remains unwavering in its support, equipping countries with essential tools, guidance, and resources to drive impactful progress in controlling mpox.”
“The collaboration between agencies comes at a critical time, as mpox cases continue to rise on the continent, and new cases are reported outside Africa. As of November 6, over 11,000 laboratory-confirmed cases had been reported since the start of 2024. Four countries (South Africa, Guinea, Cameroon, and Gabon) moved to the ‘controlled phase’ in October 2024 after reporting no new cases for six weeks. Fourteen other countries are currently experiencing active outbreaks in Africa,” the statement concluded.