Words by Jade Williams
The World Health Organization has made an urgent call to pharmaceutical companies producing mpox vaccines to submit an expression of interest for Emergency Use Listing (EUL), as the situation with the virus escalates in Africa.
On Wednesday, the WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has since rapidly spread to neighbouring countries. This marks the second time in two years that the disease has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
In response to the growing threat, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO, said in a press release that “a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives”, emphasising the vital role of collaboration at this time.
The only approved vaccine for mpox is one originally developed by Bavarian Nordic for smallpox. It’s been approved by the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE), but no vaccine specifically designed to treat mpox is yet on the market.
By initiating the EUL process, it is hoped that new vaccines will become available more quickly, particularly for low-income countries. The EUL also allows organisations such as UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to procure and distribute vaccines more efficiently.
In a statement, Gavi said they welcomed the recent measures announced by WHO, also championing the importance of collaboration on this issue. In June 2024, Gavi began measures related to tackling mpox, including an establishment of a global stockpile of mpox vaccines to begin in 2026. In the meantime, the alliance has initiated rapid operational support to aid the response to the disease.
