DR Congo Receives MVA-BN Vaccine Shipment as WHO Prequalifies Mpox Vaccine Amid Severe Outbreak
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The Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of the ongoing mpox epidemic, has received its first shipment of MVA-BN vaccines. This development comes as the country faces a significant health crisis, having reported nearly 22,000 cases and 716 deaths attributed to the virus since January.
In response to the outbreak, the European Union has delivered approximately 200,000 vaccine doses to the DRC, with an additional 50,000 doses provided by the United States.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease transmitted to humans from infected animals, but it can also spread between people through close physical contact.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced significant progress in the fight against mpox, a disease known for causing fever, muscle aches, and severe, boil-like skin lesions, which can sometimes be fatal. On Friday, the WHO revealed that a vaccine for mpox has received its first prequalification, marking a crucial milestone in combating the current outbreak in Africa and future cases. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of this development, calling for an urgent increase in vaccine procurement, donations, and distribution. He stressed that equitable access to the vaccine is essential for preventing infections, halting transmission, and saving lives.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed a new mpox vaccine, the MVA-BN vaccine, on its prequalification list, a key step in evaluating the quality, safety, and efficacy of medical products. This prequalification facilitates procurement by the United Nations and other international agencies, and it is especially vital for lower-income countries that lack the resources to conduct their own evaluations.
Yukiko Nakatani, WHO’s assistant chief for access to medicines and health products, stated that the WHO’s prequalification will expedite the procurement of mpox vaccines by governments and international agencies, crucial for addressing the ongoing emergency in Africa and other regions.
The WHO declared an international emergency for mpox last month due to a surge in cases of the new Clade 1b strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has spread to neighboring countries.
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