Kaduna Gears Up for Monkeypox Vaccination

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB) has announced plans to commence monkeypox vaccination in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) where cases of the disease have been recorded.

Health Educator at the SPHCB, Isah Yusha’u, disclosed this on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Kaduna on the introduction of the monkeypox vaccine.

According to Yusha’u, the state is working proactively to curb the spread of monkeypox and protect the health of residents, following a rise in reported cases across several LGAs.

In response to the outbreak, he said the Federal Government, in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and development partners, has approved a reactive vaccination campaign targeting high-risk individuals.

“The vaccination exercise is scheduled to begin tentatively on August 10 or 11 and will run for 10 days in the selected LGAs,” he said. “A second round of vaccinations will follow four weeks later.”

He explained that the vaccine would be prioritised for people considered most vulnerable to infection, including laboratory personnel who may have been exposed to specimens, individuals with compromised immune systems, and those identified as engaging in high-risk sexual behaviour.

Yusha’u emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement to ensure success. “We are involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and medical institutions to provide accurate information, address concerns, and promote public trust in the vaccination,” he said.

He urged the public to accept the vaccine in good faith, assuring that its distribution would be strategic and targeted for maximum impact.

“By launching this campaign, the board is taking proactive steps to combat the monkeypox outbreak and safeguard public health,” Yusha’u added.

The engagement meeting drew participation from a wide range of stakeholders including health workers, religious leaders, social mobilisation officers, trade union representatives, and members of the media.

Also speaking at the meeting, Abubakar Musa, Coordinator of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna North LGA, urged communities to support the vaccination campaign.

Drawing from the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Musa said JNI played a vital role in fighting misinformation and supporting safety measures. He reaffirmed the group’s commitment to promoting public health while respecting religious values.

“Religious leaders are crucial to the success of health interventions, and JNI remains committed to supporting initiatives that protect lives,” he said.