admin The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved the first mpox vaccine for children, a move experts hope will improve access to immunisations for some of the most vulnerable populations affected by ongoing outbreaks in Congo and other parts of Africa.
In an announcement on Tuesday evening, the United Nations health agency authorised the use of the mpox vaccine developed by Japanese firm KM Biologics. The vaccine, approved for children over the age of one, will be administered as a single dose.
Save the Children recently reported a significant rise in mpox cases among children under 18 in Congo, noting a staggering 130% increase this year. Suspected cases have now exceeded 25,000, with children being nearly four times more likely than adults to succumb to the disease, according to the charity. Mpox, a relative of smallpox, typically causes fever, rash, lesions, and fatigue, with children particularly vulnerable due to their weaker immune systems and exploratory behaviour.
“Children are especially vulnerable to mpox,” said Dr Katia Vieira de Moraes LaCasse from Save the Children. “Their natural curiosity, combined with limited understanding of health guidance, puts them at higher risk.”
Experts have observed that children in Congo and Burundi account for over 90% of mpox cases reported in Africa’s current outbreak. The approval of the KM Biologics vaccine marks a significant milestone in efforts to protect these at-risk populations.
Previously, WHO had authorised the mpox vaccine by Bavarian Nordic for adults over 18, but allowed its use in younger age groups if deemed necessary by healthcare providers. However, the lack of specific data on children and pregnant women had limited its broader application.
Recent WHO data suggests that cases in eastern Congo, where a new and more infectious strain of mpox was first identified, are beginning to stabilise. However, infections continue to rise in other regions, including Burundi and Uganda. To date, about 50,000 people in Congo have been vaccinated with the Bavarian Nordic shot.
Japan has pledged to donate three million doses of the KM Biologics vaccine to Congo, although it remains unclear if any of these doses have reached the region. The WHO’s expert committee is set to meet on Friday to evaluate whether the outbreaks in Congo and neighbouring areas still constitute a global emergency, a status first declared in August.
Africa has so far reported more than 46,000 suspected mpox cases during the current outbreak, resulting in 1,081 deaths. The hope is that with the rollout of the KM Biologics vaccine, the tide may begin to turn for the region’s youngest and most vulnerable populations.
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