The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken a significant step toward increasing access to mpox vaccines by approving its first vaccine for the disease.
This approval is expected to accelerate the distribution of the vaccines, especially in Africa, where the mpox epidemic has been most severe.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicenter of the outbreak, recently received its first doses of the MVA-BN vaccine.
The WHO emphasized the importance of scaling up procurement and distribution efforts to ensure that the vaccines reach the most affected areas quickly.
This move is aimed at preventing further infections, halting transmission, and saving lives.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral disease spread through close physical contact and has claimed hundreds of lives in the DRC this year.
With nearly 22,000 cases and over 700 deaths since January, the need for swift vaccine distribution is critical.
This development also opens the door for lower-income countries to fast-track procurement processes for the vaccines, as WHO prequalification serves as a guarantee of the vaccine’s quality, safety, and effectiveness.
Both international organizations and governments are expected to benefit from this, facilitating a faster response to the ongoing health crisis.
