WHO Grants First Vaccine Authorization for Mpox in Adults

September 14, 2024

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently approved the first-ever vaccine to be used against mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in adults. This is a major step forward, especially in Africa, where mpox outbreaks have been particularly severe.

Significance of WHO Authorisation

The WHO’s approval allows large organizations like GAVI and UNICEF to purchase the vaccine from Bavarian Nordic A/S, the only company that makes it. However, there’s a big challenge: the vaccine supply is limited because it is made by just one manufacturer. This makes it difficult to get enough doses to the people who need them.

The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stressed the importance of quickly increasing the supply of vaccines and getting them to the areas most affected by mpox. He said it’s urgent to act now to save lives.

Vaccination Guidelines

The WHO has said that the vaccine can be given to adults aged 18 and older. It requires two doses to be effective. While it isn’t licensed for use in people under 18, the WHO allows it to be used in emergency situations, where the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.

Impact on Children

In some parts of Africa, such as Congo, children are being hit hard by mpox. Data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention shows that about 70% of mpox cases there are in children under 15 years old, and the death rate is particularly high in this age group.

According to the latest reports, there have been 107 new deaths and 3,160 new cases of mpox in Africa in just the past week. The Africa CDC and WHO have launched a continental response plan to address the crisis.

What is Mpox?

Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus family. The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mpox is mostly found in Central and West Africa, where it’s spread by rodents.

Symptoms include fever, a rash, and swollen lymph nodes. The virus spreads through direct contact, respiratory droplets, or contaminated materials like bedding or clothing. Although there’s no specific treatment for mpox, the smallpox vaccine can provide some protection. Since 2022, mpox cases have been rising, leading to greater public health efforts to control it.

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