Nigeria has launched a targeted vaccination campaign across 12 high-burden states to curb the spread of mpox, focusing on protecting vulnerable populations and strengthening outbreak response mechanisms. This ten-day campaign, coordinated by the Federal Government through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and supported by State Ministries of Health, WHO, and UNICEF, is utilizing WHO-prequalified MVA-BN mpox vaccines provided by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
The campaign strategically targets high-risk areas, administering a total of 30,100 vaccine doses in states including Benue, Edo, Kaduna, Plateau, and several others. These locations were selected based on epidemiological data and outbreak risk assessments. Mpox re-emerged in Nigeria in 2017 after nearly 40 years, with nearly 2,000 suspected cases and 189 deaths recorded by 2024. As of mid-2025, over 1,100 suspected cases and nearly 300 confirmed infections had been reported across 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Vaccination efforts focus on adults aged 18 and over who have had contact with confirmed cases, frontline health workers, individuals with weakened immune systems, and those exhibiting high-risk sexual behaviors. Each recipient receives two doses spaced four weeks apart to reduce disease severity and interrupt transmission in outbreak-prone communities.
Community members have expressed hope and confidence in the campaign. In Benue State, a resident shared feeling safer after vaccination and encouraging her family to get vaccinated. Frontline health workers highlighted the increased confidence vaccination provides in serving their communities, and local leaders commended the government for vaccine availability across age groups.
Government officials and partners underscored the importance of collaboration in the campaign’s success. Plateau State’s Health Commissioner thanked partners such as Gavi and WHO for ensuring vaccine access, noting the campaign’s role in strengthening outbreak response and contributing to global health security. The Acting WHO Representative in Nigeria highlighted that the vaccination initiative is a crucial step to stop transmission and protect vulnerable groups, focusing on high-risk individuals due to limited vaccine supply.
WHO has played a key role by training vaccination and cold-chain teams, providing digital tools, coordinating logistics, monitoring vaccine safety, and supporting risk communication to raise public awareness. Working with NCDC, Gavi, and UNICEF, WHO facilitated Nigeria’s access to global vaccine stockpiles, ensuring doses reach the most affected areas. Preliminary results are promising, with over 19,300 individuals vaccinated to date.
Nigeria’s vaccination campaign is part of WHO’s broader global strategy to reduce mpox transmission, expand vaccine access, and integrate vaccination efforts with surveillance, testing, and community engagement. WHO continues to collaborate with African countries and others worldwide to enhance preparedness and response to mpox outbreaks.
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