WHO Grants First Authorization for Mpox Vaccine Amidst Urgent Calls for Supply Scale-Up

The World Health Organization has authorized the first vaccine for mpox in adults, facilitating its procurement by global donors like GAVI and UNICEF. Supplies are currently limited to a single manufacturer. This pre-qualification aims to fight the disease in Africa and beyond, urging for a rapid scale-up of procurement and distribution.

The World Health Organisation on Friday announced its inaugural authorisation of a vaccine for mpox in adults, a significant milestone in combating the disease both in Africa and globally.

With this pre-qualification by Bavarian Nordic A/S, major donors like GAVI the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF can purchase it. However, supply remains constrained as there is only a single manufacturer available.

'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 future,' stated WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He called for an urgent scale-up of procurement, donations, and distribution to get the vaccine to areas most in need.

The authorisation allows the vaccine to be administered to individuals aged 18 and above in a two-dose regimen. Though not licensed for those under 18, it can be used in outbreak settings where the benefits outweigh the risks.

Recent data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that nearly 70% of cases in Congo affect children under 15, who also constitute 85% of deaths. Just last week, the Africa CDC and WHO launched a continental response plan following the report of 107 new deaths and 3,160 new cases.

The Mpox virus, related to smallpox, generally causes milder symptoms but can lead to severe cases with lesions on the face, hands, chest, and genitals.

(With inputs from agencies.)