MPox vaccine is prequalified by WHO

This Friday (13), the National Health Organization (WHO) announced that the MVA-BN vaccine, produced by Nordic Bavaria, against the mpox virus, popularly called monkeypox, was pre-qualified by the organization.

The MVA-BN vaccine, developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company, is the first to obtain WHO status for use in the population. Thus, it is estimated that the number of purchases of the vaccine globally will increase, making vaccination coverage reach areas with the highest number of cases.

The inclusion of MVA-BN in the WHO prequalified list of medicines is a tool for further promotion to the authorities responsible for purchasing the medicine. In her statement, Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Director of Access to Medicines and Health Products, said: “Prequalification will be essential to accelerate the continued procurement of measles vaccines by governments and international agencies such as Gavi (the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) and UNICEF, supporting communities on the frontlines of emergencies in Africa and beyond.”

Studies by the European Medicines Agency and the manufacturer Bavarian Nordic were the basis for the WHO to make this inclusion. The vaccine, according to WHO studies, offers 76% efficacy with the dose and 82% for the first complete regimen.

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_{Details of the hands of a young man infected with mpox (Photo: reproduction/Getty Images Embed/Glody Murhabazi)}

MPOX advances in Brazil

The Ministry of Health reported that from January to September this year, Brazil registered 1,015 cases, surpassing the 853 recorded in 2023. Currently, there are still 426 suspected cases of the disease. The highest concentration of the disease is in the southeast region of the country.

According to the bulletin, the municipalities with the highest number of records are São Paulo with 36.5% of confirmed and suspected cases of mpox, in second place Rio de Janeiro with 167 and third Belo Horizonte with 43.

Transmission methods

Monkeypox, or mpox, is spread through physical contact. According to the Ministry of Health, “skin to skin”is the main form of contagion. Skin-to-skin sexual relations, kissing, hugging and direct contact with blood, pus and saliva are understood as skin-to-skin contact.

Furthermore, contact with objects handled by infected people can also infect other people.

Featured photo Immunization image (reproduction/Getty Images Embed/file)