BRUSSELS
The European Commission on Monday granted marketing authorization for a vaccine for Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic to be used against the monkeypox virus, an EU official said.
The European Commission approved the extension of Imvanex’s vaccine marketing license, Stefan de Keersmaecker, spokesman for the EU’s executive body in charge of health, confirmed to Anadolu Agency.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended approval last week after its scientific assessment concluded that Imvanex, which was originally developed to fight smallpox, is also effective at protecting adults from the monkeypox virus.
On Saturday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency.
The virus has affected more than 16,000 people in 75 countries since May, according to the latest WHO statistics.
Monkeypox is a virus that causes illness with symptoms similar to smallpox, including fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
Human-to-human transmission is limited, but can be transmitted by contact with body fluids, skin lesions, or internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.
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