Tue Nov 19 22:07:18 UTC 2024: ## WHO Approves Second Mpox Vaccine for Emergency Use, Boosting Global Response

**Geneva** – The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted emergency use listing (EUL) to a second mpox vaccine, significantly bolstering the global fight against the ongoing outbreak. The LC16m8 vaccine, developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company KM Biologics, joins Bavarian Nordic’s MVA-BN vaccine, which received WHO prequalification in September.

This approval accelerates access to the vaccine for countries battling mpox outbreaks, particularly in regions experiencing a surge in cases. The WHO’s assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products, Yukiko Nakatani, stated that the EUL marks a “significant step” in the emergency response, providing a crucial new tool to protect populations worldwide, including children.

The announcement comes as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to grapple with the majority of the over 39,000 suspected mpox cases and over 1,000 deaths reported globally this year. The WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern on August 14th due to the spread of a new Clade 1b strain from the DRC to neighboring countries. Mpox cases have been reported in 80 countries across the globe.

The timing of the WHO’s approval is particularly relevant, as the Japanese government has pledged a substantial donation of 3.05 million doses of the LC16m8 vaccine, along with specialized needles, to the DRC. The WHO described this as the largest donation package announced to date in response to the mpox emergency.

While the vaccine offers a vital tool in combating the outbreak, the WHO emphasized that it should not be administered to pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals. Mpox, transmitted through close physical contact with infected animals or humans, is characterized by fever, muscle aches, and distinctive skin lesions. In some cases, the disease can be fatal. The WHO’s approval of the LC16m8 vaccine is expected to significantly enhance global efforts to control and mitigate the spread of mpox.

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