WHO approves first mpox vaccine to boost access in Africa
The MVA-BN vaccine from Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic has been prequalified by WHO on Friday and has been approved in Europe and the United States for adult use.
WHO approval will accelerate access for millions of people, to reduce transmission and help prevent outbreaks.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said prequalification of the vaccine was an important step in the fight against mpox virus in Africa and in the future.
“We now need to rapidly scale up procurement, donations and deployment to ensure equitable access. “Vaccines are delivered where they are needed most, alongside other public health tools to prevent infections, stop transmission and save lives,” said Mr Ghebreyesus.
Vaccine management
The MVA-BN vaccine can be given in two doses to people 18 years of age and older, four weeks apart, with an estimated efficacy of 82 percent.
For infants, young children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals, vaccines may be used in situations where the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the potential risks.
In cases where vaccine supplies are limited, the health organization recommends distributing the vaccine in single doses, which are up to 76% effective.
WHO said prequalification of vaccines would help speed up procurement by governments and international agencies such as the Gavi vaccine alliance and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
It could also help speed up regulatory approvals in countries around the world.
