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Nigeria became the first African country to receive 10,000 doses of mpox vaccines on Tuesday to respond to the outbreak of the viral disease that is sweeping across several countries.

The vaccine, Jynneos,  manufactured by Bavarian Nordic pharmaceutical firm, was donated by the U.S. government.

The vaccines are set to be rolled out in five states with the highest burden of mpox cases. They will be administered in a two-dose schedule to 5,000 people most at risk of mpox, including close contacts of mpox cases and frontline healthcare workers, with a provision for reactive vaccination in other states as the need arises.

“We are pleased to receive this modest initial donation of the mpox vaccine which is safe and efficacious. We will continue to strengthen surveillance and be vigilant to prevent and control mpox. We urge the global health community to expand access to vaccines,” Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate said.

Nigeria has confirmed 39 mpox cases this year. However, 786 suspected cases have been reported with no deaths so far this year.

According to the World Health Organisation, 12 countries in the African region are reporting mpox cases, and more than 15,000 suspected cases have been registered since the beginning of this year.  Out of these, over 3500 cases are laboratory-confirmed, including 26 deaths.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak, Burundi, and other East African nations are expecting vaccines, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The first batch of vaccine doses promised for the Democratic Republic of Congo could arrive on September 1 following delays due to documentation and emergency authorization issues, Jean Kaseya, the head of Africa CDC said in a recent news briefing.

African countries have been urged to promote health measures and hygiene practices that would slow the spread of the mpox virus.