WHO approves Mpox’s first vaccine, it is up to 82 percent effective

New Delhi. The Mpox virus has caused havoc in many countries of the world. Amid the spread of this virus, good news has come from the World Health Organization (WHO), which has given the first approval to the vaccination vaccine for the treatment of the Mpox virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday declared the MVA-BN vaccine as the first vaccine against Mpox to be added to its prequalification list. The move is expected to improve access to the vaccine to the general public, especially among communities that urgently need it.

The MVA-BN vaccine is currently not made for people under 18 years of age. However, the WHO has given instructions to prepare such a vaccine for children, pregnant women and people with weak immunity as soon as possible.

WHO statement on the vaccine

The prequalification process, based on information submitted by the manufacturer, Bavarian Nordic A/S, and reviewed by the European Medicines Agency, aims to facilitate rapid procurement and distribution of the vaccine. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the importance of the vaccine towards preventing current mpox outbreaks (especially in Africa).

“In the context of current outbreaks in Africa and future ones, this first prequalification of a vaccine against mpox is an important step in our fight against the disease,” he said. He called for urgent scaling up of vaccine procurement, donations and distribution to ensure equitable access.

“Along with other public health tools, this vaccine will help prevent infection, halt transmission and save lives,” he added. The MVA-BN vaccine, which is given as a two-dose injection at an interval of four weeks, is approved for people over 18 years of age. After being stored in cold conditions, it can remain stable for eight weeks at a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.

Up to 82 percent effective

WHO Assistant Director-General Dr. Yukiko Nakatani said, ‘The approval of the vaccine against monkeypox is an important step in our fight against the disease, both in terms of the current outbreak in Africa and the future. Emphasised the need to promote procurement, donation and distribution to ensure vaccine doses to everyone. Other public health tools are also urgently needed to prevent infection, stop transmission and save lives. The ongoing procurement of the monkeypox vaccine by governments and international agencies such as Gavi and UNICEF will be accelerated to help people immediately.’

Available data shows that a single dose MVA-BN vaccine given before exposure is estimated to be 76 percent effective in protecting people from monkeypox, while 2 doses are estimated to be 82 percent effective. The MVA-BN vaccine has been approved in Switzerland, the US, Singapore, Canada, the European Union and the UK.