This mechanism is intended to improve access to these tools for those most at risk and ensure that stocks are used efficiently and equitably. It is part of the response to the public health emergency of international concern declared by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on 14 August 2024, following a resurgence of cases of COPD in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries (read our article).
“Alongside other public health interventions, vaccines, treatments and diagnostics are powerful tools to control COPD outbreaks in Africa,” said Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus. “The COPD pandemic Covid-19 Coronavirus disease, sometimes referred to as covid (from the English acronym for coronavirus disease), is a disease caused by a coronavirus (CoV). The term may refer to the following diseases: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by the SARS-CoV virus, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) caused by the MERS-CoV virus, coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. illustrated the need for international coordination to promote equitable access to these tools so that they can be used most effectively where they are needed most. We urge countries with stockpiles of vaccines and other supplies to donate to prevent infections, stop transmission and save lives.”
Sufficient vaccines?
More than 3.6 million doses of vaccine have been promised, including 620,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine promised by the European Commission, several Western countries and the United States. Less than Japan, which has promised 3 million doses of the LC16 vaccine, which has the particularity of being able to be administered to children.
According to the vaccination plans of the countries concerned, 10 million doses would be needed. WHO recommends these vaccines only for people at risk, such as those who have had close contact with infected people or who belong to groups particularly exposed to the virus. The organization does not advise a mass vaccination campaign at this time.
The BBC reports that the Democratic Republic of Congo received donations of 65,000 vaccines on September 10, bringing the country’s total to about 265,000 doses. Health Minister Dr. Roger Kamba says this is a drop in the ocean, given the country’s population of more than 100 million. And with conflict in the east, implementing an effective vaccination program is a major challenge.
The country has more than seven million internally displaced people, many of whom live in camps with limited access to clean water, putting them at increased risk of contracting MPOS.
For faster access to the Bavarian Nordic vaccine
WHO announced that the MVA-BN vaccine would be the first MPOX vaccine to be added to its prequalification list.
The aim of prequalification is to facilitate rapid and increased access to the vaccine for communities in urgent need, to reduce transmission and help contain the outbreak. WHO’s assessment for prequalification is based on information submitted by the manufacturer, Bavarian Nordic A/S, and the review by the European Medicines Agency.
The MVA-BN vaccine can be administered to people over 18 years of age as an injection of 2 doses 4 weeks apart. After prior cold storage, it can be stored at 2 to 8°C for up to 8 weeks.
“WHO’s prequalification of the MVA-BN vaccine will help accelerate the ongoing procurement of MPOX vaccines by governments and international agencies such as Gavi and UNICEF to support communities on the frontlines of the current emergency in Africa and beyond,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products. “The decision can also help national regulatory authorities expedite approvals, thereby increasing access to quality-assured MPOX vaccine products.”
Although the MVA-BN is not in principle authorized for persons under 18 years of age, it can be used outside AMM Marketing Authorization. Administrative procedure that authorizes a pharmaceutical laboratory to market a molecule. in infants, children and adolescents, as well as in pregnant and immunocompromised people. WHO recommends the use of a single dose in outbreak situations where supply is limited and stresses the need for more data on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines in these circumstances.
Available data show that a single dose of MVA-BN vaccine, administered before exposure, has an estimated efficacy of 76% in protecting individuals against MPOX, with the 2-dose regimen achieving an estimated efficacy of 82%. Post-exposure vaccination is less effective than pre-exposure vaccination.
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