- WHO adds Bavarian Nordic’s MVA-BN vaccine to prequalification list.
- Approval expected to improve vaccine access, especially in Africa.
- Director-General emphasizes need for equitable distribution.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially approved the MVA-BN vaccine, developed by Bavarian Nordic, as the first mpox vaccine on its prequalification list.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the importance of this prequalification in the global fight against mpox.
First Mpox Vaccine Gains WHO Prequalification, Enhancing Global Response
The recent WHO prequalification of the MVA-BN vaccine represents a pivotal advancement in managing mpox outbreaks. With this approval, international agencies will be able to procure the vaccine more swiftly, and countries can expedite their national regulatory approvals. This decision marks a significant step forward in global health efforts to combat mpox.
In addition to improving access to the vaccine, this development underscores the critical need for equitable distribution. WHO Assistant Director-General Yukiko Nakatani emphasized that the approval will help address urgent outbreaks and support long-term disease control strategies. As the world continues to tackle mpox, the prequalification of this vaccine could prove instrumental in mitigating future outbreaks.
“This first prequalification of a vaccine against mpox is an important step in our fight against the disease,” — WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
