WHO, UNICEF To Vaccinate Residents Of Six LGs In Edo Against Monkey Pox

By Ayodele Oni

The World Health Organization, (WHO), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have picked six Local Governments in Edo State to carry out vaccination  against the outbreak of Monkey Pox, (MPox).

The exercise, which will be carried out in conjunction with the Federal Government and Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), listed the LGAs as Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia North East, Esan North East, Oredo and Esan West.

Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Impact Plus Project Immunisation Specialist in Edo State, Dr. Eseigbe Efeomon, who disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin City, said all residents in the listed local governments would be vaccinated.

Dr. Efeomon said those to be vaccinated would be based on the information already made available to the agency.

He explained that the vaccination would be for health care workers and those who were immuno compromised.

Efeomon listed other diseases in the state to include Dengue fever, Lassa fever, Yellow fever, Mpox and Diphtheria

“We had this meeting today with stakeholders in Edo State to create awareness about the Mpox vaccination campaign, which will be happening 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 health care workers and those who are immuno compromised. So those are the targeted groups that we are looking at.

“Health care workers and those who are immuno compromised will be receiving two doses of this vaccine to be fully vaccinated and be protected against the Mpox.

“Edo State is one of the states where we had an outbreak of Mpox in the country. This is why this vaccination is currently ongoing with support from the Federal Government, WHO, UNICEF and the state government.

“So, the agency is going to be carrying out this vaccination in six targeted local governments where these cases have been reported.

“So, we are reaching out to various groups and unions and we’re using a list line to ensure those who are at risk of these Mpox get vaccinated and are protected”, Dr. Efeomon said.

Edo State Coordinator of WHO, Dr. Eyo Nora, said the vaccine was safe saying that 2, 500 doses of vaccines were expected to be distributed to the six targeted local governments.