WHO Expedites Mpox Vaccine Acquisition for Africa Amid Outbreak

The World Health Organization has allowed partners like Gavi and Unicef to start procuring mpox vaccines before full approval, to speed up inoculations in Africa amidst a rising outbreak. Two vaccines by Bavarian Nordic and KM Biologics have already been approved globally and are widely used.

The World Health Organization announced Friday that its partners, such as Gavi and Unicef, can commence purchasing mpox vaccines before official approval. This decision aims to expedite the distribution of vaccines to Africa, which is currently combating a growing virus outbreak.

Traditionally, organizations like Gavi, which facilitate vaccine access for lower-income nations, can only make acquisitions post-WHO approval. However, exceptions have been made to accelerate the process in this case, as WHO's approval is anticipated within weeks. Two vaccines, developed by Denmark's Bavarian Nordic and Japan's KM Biologics, have already received regulatory approval in several countries, including the U.S. and Japan, and have been extensively used since 2022.

In the U.S. alone, around 1.2 million people have received Bavarian Nordic's vaccine. The WHO is projected to grant an emergency license to these vaccines in September.