WHO Approves Bavarian Nordic Mpox Vaccine as UK and Gavi Ramp Up Efforts with 500,000 Doses

Sep 18, 2024, 09:15 AM

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted its first authorization for the use of a vaccine against mpox in adults, marking a significant step in combating the disease in Africa. The vaccine, developed by Bavarian Nordic, is the first to be approved by WHO for containing the spread of mpox in African countries. In response to the outbreak, the UK has ordered over 150,000 doses of the Bavarian Nordic mpox vaccine to enhance its preparedness against a new strain of the virus. Furthermore, the global vaccine alliance Gavi has announced plans to purchase 500,000 doses of the Bavarian Nordic mpox vaccine, allocating $50 million for this initiative to support African countries hardest hit by the outbreak. The WHO declared the mpox outbreak in several African countries a public health emergency of international concern in August.