Kaduna Set to Action Monkeypox Vaccination Campaign in Affected LGAs

The Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board (SPHCB) has announced plans to roll out a monkeypox vaccination campaign in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) hit by the recent outbreak of the virus.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting on Wednesday in Kaduna, the Health Educator at the SPHCB, Isah Yusha’u, revealed that the board is working proactively to contain the spread of monkeypox and protect residents across the state.

Yusha’u disclosed that several LGAs have reported a significant number of monkeypox cases, prompting urgent intervention.

He said the Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and international development partners, has approved a reactive vaccination programme targeting high-risk populations.

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

The vaccine will be prioritised for high-risk groups, including laboratory personnel who may have handled infected specimens, individuals with compromised immune systems, and people identified as having high-risk sexual behaviour.

To drive community engagement and ensure public acceptance of the vaccine, the board is mobilising a coalition of traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and healthcare institutions.

“We are engaging with stakeholders to provide accurate information, address fears, and dispel misinformation about the vaccine,” Yusha’u said. “This is a vital part of ensuring the success of the campaign.”

He called on residents to receive the vaccine in good faith, stressing that its distribution will be strategic and focused on communities most affected by the outbreak.

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

The stakeholders’ meeting, attended by health workers, religious leaders, social mobilisation officers, trade union representatives, and members of the media, also featured remarks from Abubakar Musa, Coordinator of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna North LGA.

Musa urged the public to support the vaccination initiative, drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted JNI’s critical role in combating misinformation during that period and pledged continued collaboration to ensure the success of the monkeypox response.

He emphasised the importance of religious leaders in promoting public health awareness and reaffirmed JNI’s commitment to balancing faith-based practices with health priorities.

The Kaduna SPHCB said it will release further details on vaccination centres and schedules in the coming days.