The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Friday that it has granted its first authorization for the use of a vaccine against mpox in adults, marking a significant milestone in combating the disease, particularly in Africa.
The approval of the vaccine, produced by Bavarian Nordic A/S, opens the door for donors such as Gavi, the vaccine alliance, and UNICEF to purchase it.
However, supply is limited due to the vaccine being manufactured by a single producer.
“This first authorization of a vaccine against mpox is an important step in our fight against the disease, both in the context of the current outbreaks in Africa and for future prevention,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The WHO also announced plans to establish an “access and allocation mechanism” to ensure equitable distribution of mpox tests, treatments, and vaccines to countries in greatest need.
The two-dose vaccine has been approved for use in individuals aged 18 and older, with potential use in younger populations in outbreak settings where the benefits outweigh risks, though it is not recommended for those under 18.
The Bavarian Nordic vaccine had previously been authorized by many wealthy nations during the 2022 global mpox outbreak. While it helped curb the virus’ spread among millions of adults, there is limited data on its effectiveness in children.
According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 70% of cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo — the hardest-hit country — have occurred in children under 15, who also represent 85% of deaths.
Globally, over 103,000 mpox cases have been confirmed across 120 countries since the outbreak began two years ago, with Africa reporting 723 deaths in more than a dozen countries.
African health experts estimate that 10 million vaccines are needed to halt the ongoing outbreaks on the continent, though donor countries have so far promised only about 3.6 million doses. As of last week, Congo had received just 250,000 doses.
Mpox, which belongs to the same virus family as smallpox, typically causes milder symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches. Severe cases may result in lesions on the face, hands, chest, and genitals.
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