WHO Approves Second Mpox Vaccine from Japan Amid Ongoing Outbreaks

The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the LC16m8 mpox vaccine, produced by Japan’s KM Biologics, marking a significant step in combating the mpox outbreak, which has affected over 39,000 individuals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

This approval comes after the WHO declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024.

Japan has pledged to donate 3.05 million doses of the LC16m8 vaccine, along with specialized inoculation needles, to the DRC, representing the largest single donation to date in response to the crisis. The WHO emphasized that this decision will enhance access to vaccines in regions experiencing surges in mpox cases, which have spread across 80 countries globally.

Earlier, the WHO had approved the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccine for individuals aged 12 and older, highlighting the ongoing efforts to curb the virus’s spread.