Announcement of the First Monkeypox Vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the “MVA-BN” vaccine has become the first monkeypox vaccine to be added to the prequalification list, according to Anadolu Agency.

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In a statement on Friday, the WHO said that the “MVA-BN” vaccine, produced by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic, has been added to the organization’s prequalified vaccines list.

Prequalification is a program established by the WHO to assess products used to combat disease vectors.

The organization stated that the approval for prequalification is expected to facilitate timely access to this vital product in communities that urgently need it, reduce transmission, and help control the outbreak.

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It noted that the vaccine might be administered in two doses, four weeks apart, for individuals over 18 years old.

The WHO also pointed out that MVA-BN is currently not licensed for individuals under 18 years of age.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that this is an important step in combating the current and future outbreaks.

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He added, “We now need an urgent increase in production, supply, donation, and distribution to ensure equitable access to vaccines in regions where they are most needed.”

On August 14, the WHO declared monkeypox a “public health emergency of international concern.”