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Mpox Vaccine: The monkeypox virus has caused havoc in many countries of the world. Amidst the outbreak of this virus, good news has come from the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO has approved the first vaccine for the treatment of the monkeypox virus.
The WHO on Friday announced the MVA-BN vaccine as the first vaccine against monkeypox to be included in its prequalification list.
The MVA-BN vaccine is currently not for use in people under the age of 18. However, the WHO has directed to develop such a vaccine as soon as possible for children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
WHO statement on vaccines
The prequalification process, based on information submitted by the manufacturer Bavarian Nordic A/S and reviewed by the European Medicines Agency, aims to facilitate the rapid procurement and distribution of the vaccine. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus has stressed the importance of vaccines in stopping the current monkeypox outbreak (particularly in Africa).
“This first prequalification of a vaccine against monkeypox is a critical step in our fight against the disease, both in terms of current and future outbreaks in Africa,” he said, calling for an urgent scale-up of vaccine procurement, donations and distribution to ensure equitable access.
“This vaccine, along with other public health tools, will help prevent transmission and save lives,” he said. The MVA-BN vaccine, given as a two-dose injection four weeks apart, is approved for people over 18 years of age. Once stored in cold conditions, it can remain stable for up to eight weeks at temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius.
82% effective
“The approval of a vaccine against monkeypox is an important step in our fight against this disease, both in the context of the current outbreak in Africa and for the future,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General. The ongoing procurement of monkeypox vaccine by governments and international agencies such as GAVI and UNICEF will be promoted to provide immediate support to people in need.
Available data indicate that a single dose of the MVA-BN vaccine given before exposure is about 76% effective in protecting people from monkeypox, while two doses are about 82% effective. The MVA-BN vaccine is approved in Switzerland, the US, Singapore, Canada, the EU, and the UK.