The World Health Organization (WHO) approved the inclusion of the LC16m8 vaccine against mpox to the list of emergency use supplies. This is the second vaccine approved by the entity for the control and prevention of the disease, declared a global emergency in August.
Data from the entity reveals that, in 2024, cases of mpox were reported in at least 80 countries, including 19 African nations. The Democratic Republic of Congo, the hardest hit country, accounts for the majority of suspected cases.
On social media, the director-general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, highlighted that the LC16m8 vaccine is the first approved for use in children under 1 year of age who live in areas where mpox outbreaks have been recorded.
“This is a vital step to protect vulnerable populations, especially children, as mpox continues to spread,” he wrote.
According to Tedros, over the last two months, half of the suspected cases recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo were identified among children under 12 years of age. “The total number of suspected cases has exceeded 40,000 this year, with 1,200 deaths reported.”
In the post, the WHO director-general warned that the outbreaks of the disease in Burundi and Uganda are expanding. The entity called an emergency committee meeting for next Friday (22) to reassess the mpox scenario in the world.
