Written By Lisa Murimi
The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 17, a group considered especially vulnerable to mpox outbreaks.Â
The approval, granted on October 8, marks a significant step in combating the disease, which has caused global concern.
Mpox, a viral infection causing flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, was declared a global public health emergency by the WHO in August, following the spread of a new virus variant from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries.
This latest approval follows the WHO’s earlier prequalification of the Jynneos vaccine for adults, which has made it easier for African countries, severely affected by the outbreak, to access the vaccine.
Children, adolescents, and individuals with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to severe mpox infections.
The European Union had already approved the vaccine for adolescents in September.
Additionally, Bavarian Nordic is set to conduct a clinical trial assessing the vaccine’s safety in children aged two to 12, with the trial expected to begin this month.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the vaccine for adults but granted emergency use for adolescents during the 2022 outbreak.
