WHO approves Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine for adolescents

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday said that Bavarian Nordic's mpox vaccine has been approved for adolescents aged 12 to 17 years.

According to a situation report published by the UN agency, the vaccine prequalification for adolescents was given on Oct. 8.

In mid-September, WHO approved the vaccine as the first vaccine against mpox for people over the age of 18, with two doses administered four weeks apart.

The WHO classified mpox a public health emergency of international concern after the disease spread from the virus’ epicenter, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to its neighbors.

The first prequalification of a vaccine was described as "an important step in our fight against the disease, both in the context of the current outbreaks in Africa, and in future" by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.