Africa-Press – Kenya. Rich countries have been asked to stop stockpiling monkeypox vaccines and start to share doses with developing nations.
The World Health Organization said cases are increasing and they do not want a repeat of the inequity seen during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We remain concerned the inequitable access to vaccines we saw during the Covid-19 pandemic will be repeated and the poorest will continue to be left behind,” WHO director general Tedros Ghebreyesus said.
He was delivering his regular press briefing on Thursday from Geneva.
Almost 7,500 cases were reported last week, a 20 per cent increase over the previous week, which was 20 per cent more than the week before.
Kenya has not reported a case yet and the Ministry of Health has not bought any vaccine.
The only approved vaccine, called Jynneos, is made by Danish company Bavarian Nordic A/S that said it’s no longer certain it can meet demand and is talking to multiple production partners.
Vaccine Alliance Gavi also said it was ready to work with partners to respond to this outbreak.
It also urged countries to stop stockpiling.
“The Vaccine Alliance will remain vigilant and on call to engage, working with the WHO and other partners, should it be determined a broader vaccine effort requires Gavi’s involvement,” Gavi CEO Dr Seth Berkley said.
“As countries procure smallpox vaccines, effective against monkeypox, we urge governments with stockpiles — or supplies on order — to be generous and flexible in releasing doses to countries with cases but that do not have access, to help ensure equity.”
The majority of cases are being reported in Europe and the Americas, and mostly among men who have sex with men.
“The primary focus for all countries must be to ensure they are ready for monkeypox, and to stop transmission using effective public health tools,” WHO boss Tedros said.
These include enhanced disease surveillance, careful contact tracing, tailored risk communication and community engagement and risk reduction measures, he said.
Global supplies of Monkeypox vaccines are limited, as is data about their effectiveness. WHO is in contact with manufacturers, and with countries and organisations willing to share doses.
Two weeks ago, US firm Tonix pharmaceuticals said it has picked Kenya for the Phase 1 clinical vaccine trial to develop TNX-8011 as a vaccine against monkeypox and smallpox.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals CEO Seth Lederman said TNX801 is a live virus vaccine believed to be closer to the smallpox vaccines used in the US and Europe before 1900.
“People who received the live virus vaccine for smallpox before eradication appear to maintain durable protective immunity against monkeypox,” Lederman said.
TNX-801 has reduced virulence in animals and we believe it has the potential for widespread use to protect against monkeypox, he said.
The study for local development of the vaccine is expected to start in the first half of 2023.
It will be conducted in collaboration with researchers from the Kenya Medical Research Institute.
“Kemri is excited to plan these clinical trials with Tonix, and ultimately to lead the trials,” Kemri director general Samuel Kariuki said.
“We are grateful that Tonix is committed to sponsoring clinical studies and making TNX-801 available for this important study,” he added.
Mwau said the recent global monkeypox outbreak requires Kenya to be prepared with an efficacious vaccine that can provide durable immunity and block further transmission.
Last month, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global public health emergency of concern.
This means the situation has not necessarily grown out of control but has the potential to do so, hence, the need for an immediate international response.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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