Who Grants First Mpox Vaccine Approval To Ramp Up Response To Disease In African Countries Hit The Hardest

The World Health Organization WHO announced on Friday that it had officially granted its first approval for the use of a vaccine against mpox formerly known as monkeypox in adults.

The organization hailed this as a significant step towards controlling the disease, particularly in Africa where the virus has been more widespread.

The vaccine , developed by Danish manufacturer Bavarian Nordic A/S, received WHO's authorization, allowing global health agencies such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF to purchase and distribute it. However, WHO cautioned that supplies remain limited, as Bavarian Nordic is currently the sole producer of the vaccine.

'This first authorization of a vaccine against mpox is an important step in our fight against the disease, both in the context of the current outbreaks in Africa and in future,' said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Distribution challenges