The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a significant ramp-up in mpox vaccine production in response to a concerning surge in a more dangerous strain of the virus. On Wednesday, the WHO declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, its highest alert level, due to a dramatic increase in Clade 1b cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and their spread beyond national borders.
Margaret Harris, a WHO spokeswoman, emphasized the urgent need for expanded vaccine production. “We do need the manufacturers to really scale up so that we’ve got access to many, many more vaccines,” she told reporters. The WHO is also appealing to countries with existing vaccine stockpiles to donate them to regions currently experiencing outbreaks.
Currently, two mpox vaccines are in use: MVA-BN, developed by the Danish firm Bavarian Nordic, and Japan’s LC16. Harris noted that there are 500,000 doses of MVA-BN available, with the potential to produce an additional 2.4 million doses quickly if buyers commit. Furthermore, up to 10 million doses could be produced by 2025 if there is a firm procurement request. The LC16 vaccine, produced by Japan’s government, has a substantial stockpile, and the WHO is coordinating with Tokyo to facilitate donations.
Doctors Without Borders has urged countries with vaccine stockpiles but no current outbreaks to donate as many doses as possible to affected regions in Africa. The charity also called on Bavarian Nordic to reduce the cost of MVA-BN, noting that the vaccine’s price is prohibitive for many nations facing mpox threats.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) highlighted the severe challenges faced in combating mpox, particularly in Africa. Bronwyn Nichol, IFRC’s senior public health emergencies officer, criticized the limited vaccine distribution so far, calling it “a drop in the bucket.” She stressed that shortages in testing, treatment, and vaccines are significantly hindering efforts to control the outbreak.
The WHO, led by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is expected to issue temporary recommendations to guide countries in managing the mpox surge. The virus has two subtypes: the more virulent Clade 1, endemic to the Congo Basin in central Africa, and Clade 2, found in West Africa. The recent surge in DRC involves two different strains of Clade 1. Clade 1a, affecting children and transmitted through multiple modes, and Clade 1b, a newer strain spreading primarily through sexual transmission among adults.
Tedros described the situation as “complex,” requiring a comprehensive and coordinated international response to effectively manage and contain the outbreaks.
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