WHO Approves First Vaccine for Mpox Virus as Outbreak Continues
The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the first vaccine for the mpox virus, MVA-BN, in a bid to contain the ongoing outbreak. The vaccine has been added to WHO's prequalification list, making it available to communities in urgent need. The vaccine has shown an estimated 76% effectiveness in protecting people against mpox when given as a single dose before exposure, and an estimated 82% effectiveness when given as a two-dose injection four weeks apart.
Key Takeaways:
- The WHO has approved the first vaccine for the mpox virus, MVA-BN, which has been added to the WHO's prequalification list.
- The vaccine has shown an estimated 76% effectiveness in protecting people against mpox when given as a single dose before exposure.
- The vaccine has shown an estimated 82% effectiveness when given as a two-dose injection four weeks apart.
- The vaccine can be kept at 2-8°C for up to 8 weeks after prior cold storage.
- The WHO has stressed the importance of gathering data about vaccine safety and effectiveness in different contexts, particularly with the emergence of new virus strains.
- The WHO has also received expressions of interest for mpox diagnostic products for emergency use listing.
- The mpox outbreak has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO Director-General on August 14, 2024.
Statistics:
- 103,000 cases of mpox have been confirmed in over 120 countries since the onset of the global outbreak in 2022.
- 25,237 suspected and confirmed cases and 723 deaths from different outbreaks in 14 countries of the African Region have been reported in 2024 alone.
- The vaccine has a good safety profile and has consistently demonstrated vaccine performance in clinical studies and real-world use.
Sources:
World Health Organization. (August 2024). Report on the Approval of MVA-BN Vaccine.
Bavarian Nordic A/S. (n.d.). MVA-BN Vaccine Fact Sheet.
European Medicines Agency. (n.d.). Assessment Report on MVA-BN Vaccine.