WHO grants approval for first Mpox vaccine to strengthen disease control in Africa

• The vaccine, from Bavarian Nordic A/S, has received pre-qualification, 
• The vaccine is expected to reach areas of greatest need, along with other response measures.
• The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that nearly 70% of mpox cases in Congo.

On Friday, the World Health Organization announced that it has granted its first authorization for a mpox vaccine for adults, calling it a crucial step in combating the disease in Africa and beyond. Bavarian Nordic A/S’s vaccine has received pre-qualification, allowing donors like GAVI the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF to purchase it. However, supplies are limited due to the presence of only one manufacturer.

“This first pre-qualification 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 in the future,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The UN health agency chief has called for an “urgent” increase in procurement, donations, and rollout of the vaccine to ensure it reaches the areas of greatest need, along with other response measures. Under the WHO authorization, the vaccine can be administered to individuals aged 18 and older in a two-dose regimen. Although the vaccine is not currently licensed for those under 18, the approval allows its use in infants, children, and adolescents “in outbreak settings where the benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential risks.”

Last month, officials at the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that nearly 70 percent of mpox cases in Congo— the country hardest hit— are in children under 15, who also account for 85 percent of the deaths. On Thursday, the Africa CDC announced that 107 new deaths and 3,160 new cases had been recorded in the past week, just one week after launching a continental response plan with WHO.

Mpox belongs to the same virus family as smallpox but causes milder symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches. Those with more severe cases can develop lesions on the face, hands, chest, and genitals.

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