WHO clears Bavarian Nordic’s shot for Mpox

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved Bavarian Nordic’s MVA-BN as the first vaccine against mpox, adding it to its prequalification list for expanded access in communities with urgent need.
The prequalification paves the way for developing countries to access the shot as most of these nations do not have the resources to do rigorous checks into the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

About MVA-BN:

Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) is manufactured by Denmark-based Bavarian Nordic.
The Bavarian Nordic vaccine, known as Jynneos in the United States, was originally approved as a smallpox shot.
All vaccines used for mpox are weakened versions of vaccinia, a live virus that also served as the basis for the smallpox vaccine.
It has approval for mpox from both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA).
The vaccine is already being used in Congo for mpox.

Efficacy:

According to the WHO, a single-dose MVA-BN vaccine given before exposure has an estimated 76% effectiveness in preventing mpox, while a two-dose schedule increases effectiveness to 82%.
However, vaccination after exposure is noted to be less effective.

Other vaccines:

LC16m8, which is produced by KM Biologics, a company in Japan. Only Japan’s regulatory authority has approved this vaccine for mpox.
ACAM2000, which is made by a US company, Emergent BioSolutions. It was approved for mpox by the FDA last month.
Another vaccine by BioNTech, a German biotechnology company, is currently in early clinical development.