Effective in preventing monkeypox? EMA "Reviewing use of smallpox vaccine"

It is reported that the UK has purchased a portion of Imbanex.

The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has announced that it is discussing with manufacturers the possibility of using the smallpox vaccine as a preventive vaccine for monkeypox.

Recently, foreign media reported that the EMA is in talks with the Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic, the manufacturer of the smallpox vaccine 'Imvanex', regarding its use for monkeypox prevention.

Imvanex was approved as a smallpox vaccine in Europe in 2013. In the United States, it has been authorized for use in preventing and alleviating symptoms of monkeypox.

An EMA official stated that animal experiments have proven Imvanex to be effective against monkeypox and expressed hope that Nordic would submit related data as soon as possible.

If the use of Imvanex for monkeypox prevention is approved in Europe, vaccination is likely to be administered primarily to infected individuals and their contacts within Europe. It is known that the United Kingdom has purchased some quantities of Imvanex.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 550 confirmed cases have been reported in 30 countries outside the African continent so far.

Considering the possibility of monkeypox entering the country, our quarantine authorities have issued an infectious disease crisis alert at the 'interest' level, activated a related task force, and decided to designate it as a legally notifiable infectious disease. So far, there have been no reported cases domestically.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.