The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday said it has granted its first authorisation for the use of a vaccine against Mpox in adults, marking a crucial advancement in combating the disease in Africa and elsewhere.
The prequalification of the vaccine from Bavarian Nordic A/S allows organizations like GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF to purchase it. However, with only one manufacturer currently producing the vaccine, supplies are limited, which could impact the distribution and availability in affected regions.
Last week, India also reported its first mpox case. The patient, a native of Haryana is recuperating at the LNJP Hospital here. However, the Government said that it was an isolated case and there was no immediate risk to the public at large.
The MVA-BN vaccine can be administered in people over 18-years of age as a 2-dose injection given 4 weeks apart. After prior cold storage, the vaccine can be kept at 2–8°C for up to 8 weeks.
The prequalification approval is expected to facilitate timely and increased access to this vital product in communities with urgent need, to reduce transmission and help contain the outbreak. WHO’s assessment for prequalification is based on information submitted by the manufacturer, Bavarian Nordic A/S, and reviewed by the European Medicines Agency, the regulatory agency of record for this vaccine.
“This first prequalification 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,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We now need urgent scale up in procurement, donations and rollout to ensure equitable access to vaccines where they are needed most, alongside other public health tools, to prevent infections, stop transmission and save lives.”
“The WHO prequalification of the MVA-BN vaccine will help accelerate ongoing procurement of the mpox vaccines by governments and international agencies such as Gavi and Unicef to help communities on the frontlines of the ongoing emergency in Africa and beyond,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products.
