WHO Fast-Tracks Mpox Vaccine Purchases to Curb Africa Outbreak

The World Health Organization announced that partners like Gavi and Unicef can start buying mpox vaccines before WHO approval to speed up inoculation efforts in Africa. The continent is facing an escalating outbreak. Two vaccines, from Bavarian Nordic and KM Biologics, are in use globally. The WHO plans emergency approval by mid-September.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday that partners such as Gavi and Unicef will be able to purchase mpox vaccines before they receive formal approval from the agency. This move aims to expedite vaccine distribution in Africa amidst a growing outbreak of the virus.

Traditionally, organizations like Gavi, which assists lower-income countries in acquiring vaccines, can only start purchases once the vaccines have WHO approval. The decision to relax these rules is intended to hasten inoculation efforts, as WHO's approval is anticipated in a few weeks.

Two vaccines from Denmark's Bavarian Nordic and Japan's KM Biologics are already approved by various regulators and widely used globally. WHO is expected to grant an emergency license for these vaccines in September. The urgency comes as a new strain of the mpox virus rapidly spreads, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Meanwhile, some donated vaccines are scheduled to arrive in Africa next week, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

(With inputs from agencies.)