The World Health Organization has recently authorized the first mpox vaccine for children, a significant development aimed at expanding immunization efforts in regions heavily impacted by outbreaks of the disease, particularly in Congo and other parts of Africa. This decision comes in response to a notable increase in mpox cases among children under 18, with more than 25,000 suspect cases reported in Congo alone.
The approved mpox vaccine, produced by Japanese company KM Biologics, is now cleared for use in children over 1 year of age as a single dose. The move is expected to provide much-needed protection to vulnerable populations, as children have been identified as being at a higher risk of severe mpox symptoms and mortality.
Save the Children highlighted the heightened vulnerability of children to mpox, emphasizing their increased susceptibility due to behaviors such as exploring by touch and taste, limited understanding of health guidance, and weaker immune systems compared to adults. The organization reported a concerning trend of children being almost four times more likely to succumb to the latest form of mpox detected in eastern Congo earlier this year.
Notably, mpox has been disproportionately affecting children in Congo and Burundi, accounting for over 90% of all cases in Africa's current outbreak. While the mpox vaccine by Bavarian Nordic was previously approved for individuals 18 and older, the recent authorization for children underscores the urgent need to protect younger populations.
WHO has reported a plateauing of mpox cases in the region where the new, more infectious form was identified, while noting a rise in cases in other areas like Burundi and Uganda. Efforts to combat the disease have seen approximately 50,000 individuals in Congo already immunized with the Bavarian Nordic vaccine.
Japan has pledged to donate around 3 million doses of the KM Biologics vaccine to Congo, further supporting vaccination campaigns in the region. As the global health community continues to monitor the situation, WHO is set to convene its expert committee to assess whether the outbreaks in Africa still constitute a global emergency.
With over 46,000 suspected mpox cases and 1,081 deaths reported in Africa during the current outbreak, the authorization of the mpox vaccine for children marks a crucial step in mitigating the impact of the disease and safeguarding vulnerable populations.
