FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, EDSPHCDA, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation, WHO, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said six out of the 18 local government areas have been pinpointed for vaccination against the outbreak of monkey pox also known as Mpox.
The Director of Disease Control, Immunisation and Impact Plus Project Immunisation Specialist, EDSPHCDA, Dr Eseigbe Efeomon disclosed this during a stakeholders meeting in Benin.
AljazirahNigeria reports that 2,500 doses of vaccines are expected to be distributed to the six targeted local government areas.
Efeomon stated that the targeted local government areas include Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia North East, Esan North East, Oredo and Esan West.
According to him, not everyone would be vaccinated in the six targeted local government areas, as the exercise would be carried out based on the information already available to the agency.
“We had this meeting today with stakeholders in Edo State to create awareness about Mpox vaccination campaign which will take place in Edo State shortly.
“This is a targeted campaign to help reduce the incidence of Mpox previously known as Monkey Pox in Edo State among healthcare workers and those who are immuno compromised. So those are the targeted groups that we are looking at,” he said.
Efeomon stated that healthcare workers and those that are immuno compromised would receive two doses of this vaccine to be fully vaccinated and protected against the Mpox.
He said Edo is one of the states with the outbreak of Mpox in the country, which is why the vaccination is currently ongoing with support from the federal government, WHO, UNICEF and the state government.
While noting that the state is currently being hit with five diseases, namely Dengue fever, Lassa fever, Yellow fever, Mpox and Diphtheria, he said residents need to protect their food and homes from vector rats that carry Lassa fever.
Similarly, the State Coordinator, WHO, Dr Eyo Nora stated that the vaccine is safe and it is meant for the already targeted areas.
State representative of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Mr Muktar Abdullahi said the agency had carried out due diligence and that the vaccines are safe.
