The approval comes following the arrival of the first MVA-BN vaccines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is the epicenter of the epidemic.

According to the Associated Press, the World Health Organization (WHO) has, for the first time, granted prequalification status to an mpox vaccine. This development is anticipated to expedite the availability of the vaccine to combat the ongoing epidemic in Africa.

The announcement, made on Friday, follows the arrival of the initial MVA-BN vaccines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is at the epicenter of the outbreak.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's Director-General, stated, "This first prequalification of a vaccine against mpox is an important step in our fight against the disease, both in the context of the current outbreaks in Africa and in future." He emphasized the need for an urgent increase in procurement, donations, and distribution efforts to ensure equitable access to vaccines where they are most needed, to prevent infections, halt transmission, and save lives.

The WHO's prequalification listing assesses the quality, safety, and efficacy of medical products, including vaccines, facilitating their procurement by the United Nations and other international agencies. This list is particularly valuable for lower-income countries that lack the resources to conduct their evaluations, allowing them to expedite procurement approvals.

Yukiko Nakatani, WHO's Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, commented, "The WHO prequalification of the MVA-BN vaccine will help accelerate the ongoing procurement of mpox vaccines by governments and international agencies involved in the emergency response in Africa and beyond."

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus transmitted from infected animals to humans and can also spread between people through close physical contact. The disease manifests with symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and large, boil-like skin lesions, and can be fatal in some cases.

The WHO declared an international emergency regarding mpox last month due to a significant increase in cases of the new Clade 1b strain in the DRC, which has also spread to neighboring countries. Since January, the DRC has reported nearly 22,000 cases and 716 deaths linked to the virus. To date, approximately 200,000 vaccine doses have been delivered to the DRC by the European Union, with an additional 50,000 doses provided by the United States.