Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said on Monday it had won a request from the Democratic Republic of the Congo for domestically manufactured mpox vaccines and needles.
It comes days after the World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, as a new variant of the disease spreads in Africa.
The ministry said it will ultimately supply those materials with the cooperation of WHO and other partners.
KM Biologics, in Japan, is one of two widely used mpox vaccine brands. The Danish company Bavarian Nordic manufactures the other vaccine, called Jynneos.
Jynneos (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex) is a vaccine for use opposite to mpox (previously known as monkeypox). Below are some key questions about the Jynneos vaccine:
1. Approval: Jynneos is through the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for coverage against smallpox and mpox.
2. Non-replicating live vaccine: Jynneos is a live attenuated (weakened) virus that cannot be reflected in the body.
3. Safety profile: Jynneos has a favorable protection profile, with not unusual side effects, such as redness, swelling and pain at the injection site, as well as fatigue, headache and muscle aches.
4. Efficacy: Jynneos has been shown to be effective in preventing mpox infection, and studies show high degrees of protection.
5. Administration: The vaccine is administered in two doses, spaced 28 days apart.
6. Storage and handling: Jynneos requires storage and handling of frozen foods.
7. Availability: Jynneos is available in several countries, including the United States, Canada, and several European countries.
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