Smallpox vaccine for monkeypox has been approved by the European Commission following the World Health Organization’s declaration of monkeypox as a global health emergency.
According to a statement from Bavarian Nordic, “The European Commission has extended the marketing authorization for the company’s smallpox vaccine Imvanex to include protection from monkeypox” in accordance with a request by the EU’s medicines watchdog.
All EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway are covered by the permission.
A global health emergency, the highest level of alert that the WHO can issue, was announced by the WHO on Saturday in the monkeypox outbreak that has afflicted over 16,000 individuals in 72 countries.
Since 2013, the European Union has approved Imvanex for use in the prevention of smallpox.
The smallpox virus and the monkeypox virus share many similarities, making it a viable vaccination for monkeypox.
Unlike smallpox, which was eradicated in 1980, monkeypox is less harmful and contagious.
Fever, headaches, muscle discomfort, and back pain are the early signs of monkeypox and last for five days.
There are rashes and sores on the face as well as scabs on the palms and soles of the feet.
There has been an increase in monkeypox infections outside of the long-endemic West and Central African countries since early May.
Drugs are evaluated scientifically by the EMA, which then makes a recommendation on whether or not they should be put on the market.
However, under EU law, the EMA does not have the jurisdiction to allow marketing in EU countries. EMA makes a proposal, and the European Commission acts as the approving authority, and its decision is final and legally enforceable.
