WHO: Licenses first monkeypox vaccine for children

Arab Weather - The World Health Organization announced an important step in the fight against monkeypox, as it granted the license for the first vaccine intended for children. This decision came at a sensitive time, with the virus spreading significantly in the Congo and other parts of Africa, where infections among children have witnessed an alarming increase.

New vaccine for children

The approved vaccine, produced by Japanese company KM Biologics, is intended for children over the age of one year and is given as a single dose. It is the first vaccine of its kind to receive WHO approval for use in this age group.

Monkeypox Vaccine Donations

Japan has announced a donation of 3 million doses of the vaccine to support efforts to combat the virus in the Congo, which will help boost vaccination campaigns in the most affected areas.

According to Save the Children, Congo has seen a 130% increase in cases among children under the age of 18. There are now more than 25,000 suspected cases of the disease, reflecting the urgent need for intervention.

Previous monkeypox vaccines

Prior to this authorization, the World Health Organization had approved another vaccine produced by Bavarian Nordic for adults (18 years and older), with the possibility of emergency use for children.

This new authorization represents an important step towards protecting children, who are among the most vulnerable to monkeypox, promoting health equity and expanding vaccination coverage to children, particularly in low-income countries.

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