Another mpox vaccine has been
approved for emergency use.
This is now the second mpox
vaccine granted Emergency Use
Listing by the World Health Organization.
The WHO, which made the announcement, said this is expected
to facilitate increased and timely
access to vaccines in communities,
where mpox outbreaks are surging.
The announcement came as
Kenya confirmed one more case of
mpox, bringing the number of confirmed cases of the disease to 18.
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said the latest case was
confirmed in Nakuru county.
WHO said the new vaccine,
the LC16m8, should not be used
during pregnancy and in people
who are immunocompromised,
such as people with active cancer,
transplant recipients and advanced
HIV, among others.
Since this year, mpox cases have
been reported across 80 countries,
including 19 in Africa.
The Democratic Republic of the
Congo, the hardest-hit country, recorded a large majority of suspected cases – more than 39 000 – as
well as more than 1,000 deaths.
In Kenya, four mpox cases are
currently under management,
while 14 individuals have fully recovered.
“The cases are distributed as follows: Nakuru (four), Nairobi (two),
Mombasa (two), Kajiado (two),
Bungoma (two), Taita Taveta (one),
Busia (one), Makueni (one), Kericho (one) Uasin-Gishu (one) and
Kilifi (one),” CS Barasa said.
“Additionally, 115 contacts have
been identified, with 80 completing the required 21-day follow-up.
Three of these contacts have tested
positive for mpox and 32 remain
under follow-up.”
WHO said Japan, which manufactures the newly approved vaccine, will donate 3.05 million doses
of the LC16m8 vaccine, along with
specialised inoculation needles, to
the DRC.
This is the largest donation package announced to date in response
to the current mpox emergency.
“WHO emergency use listing of
the LC16m8 vaccine against mpox
marks a significant step in our response to the current emergency,
providing a new option to protect
all populations, including children,” Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO
assistant director-general for Access to Medicines and Health Products, said.
“Vaccines are one of the important tools to help contain the outbreak as part of a comprehensive
response strategy that also includes
improved testing and diagnosis,
treatment and care, infection prevention control, and engagement
and education within affected
communities.”
The WHO Strategic
Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization reviewed available evidence and recommended the use
of LC16m8 vaccine in outbreak settings in children and others with a
documented high-risk of exposure
to mpox.
Barasa has said appreciates the
public’s continued cooperation in
following health guidelines and
actively contributing to the fight
against mpox.
“Your efforts have played a vital
role in slowing down the spread of
the virus and protecting our communities,” she added.
Mpox is an infectious disease
caused by the monkeypox virus. It
can cause a painful rash, enlarged
lymph nodes and fever.
Most people fully recover, but
some get very sick.
