On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) called on vaccine producers to increase the output of mpox vaccines to control the spread of a more severe strain of the virus.
On Wednesday, the WHO announced that the mpox outbreak is now a public health emergency of international concern—their most serious alert level—following a surge in Clade 1b cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo that are now spreading to other regions.
“We do need the manufacturers to really scale up so that we’ve got access to many, many more vaccines,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters.
The WHO is urging nations with mpox vaccine reserves to contribute them to countries currently experiencing outbreaks.
Two vaccines for mpox have been utilized in recent years: MVA-BN, developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic, and LC16, produced in Japan.
Harris mentioned that 500,000 doses of MVA-BN are currently available, with the potential to manufacture an additional 2.4 million doses rapidly, provided there is a confirmed demand.
By 2025, up to 10 million more doses could be produced if there is a definite order for them.
AFP
