European Commission Approves Smallpox Vaccine for Use Against Monkeypox

Strategic Insights -

The European Commission has granted authorization for a smallpox vaccine, Imvanex, to protect against monkeypox, in line with a recommendation by the EU's medicines watchdog, the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This decision comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency. Imvanex has been approved in the EU since 2013 for preventing smallpox and has now been extended to include protection against monkeypox, which has affected nearly 16,000 people in 72 countries. The approval is valid in all European Union Member States, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Commission has approved Imvanex, a smallpox vaccine, for use against monkeypox.
  • The approval is based on a recommendation from the EU's medicines watchdog, the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
  • Imvanex has been approved in the EU since 2013 for preventing smallpox and has now been extended to include protection against monkeypox.
  • The monkeypox outbreak has affected nearly 16,000 people in 72 countries and has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • Monkeypox is less dangerous and contagious than smallpox, which was eradicated in 1980.
  • The first symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headaches, muscle pain, and back pain, followed by rashes, lesions, spots, and scabs.
  • A surge in monkeypox infections has been reported since early May outside of the West and Central African countries where the disease is endemic.
  • The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommends whether a medicine should be marketed, but it is the European Commission that takes a legally binding decision.

Statistics:

  • 62 countries have reported cases of monkeypox, resulting in 16,000 cases (Source: World Health Organization).
  • 72 countries have reported cases of monkeypox (Source: World Health Organization).
  • The first symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headaches, muscle pain, and back pain, which last for 5 days (Source: World Health Organization).
  • Imvanex has been approved in the EU since 2013 for preventing smallpox and has now been extended to include protection against monkeypox (Source: European Commission).
  • The European Commission has approved Imvanex, a smallpox vaccine, for use against monkeypox in all EU Member States, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway (Source: European Commission).

Sources:

  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • European Commission
  • European Medicines Agency (EMA)