With more than 10,000 cases of monkeypox diagnosed in several countries in the Americas and infections on the rise, the Pan American Health Organization approved this Friday a resolution that seeks to help member states to achieve equitable access to the vaccine against the disease.
Agency director Carissa Etienne explained during the special board meeting that only a third-generation monkeypox vaccine is currently available and that its production is carried out by a single manufacturer
Despite this shortage of supply, the Organization has already started the first negotiations with its producer.
Faced with this famine situation, the resolution urges Etienne to facilitate “a coordinated response” and take the necessary measures to help member states “to have access to this vaccine through the Revolving Fund of the Organization”.
Likewise, it requests the countries of the region to continue to recognize the agency and its Revolving Fund “as the most appropriate strategic regional technical mechanism to provide equitable access to this and other vaccines.”
The recommendations of the Technical Advisory Group of the Organization on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, as well as those of the Emergency Committee of the International Sanitary Regulations, stipulate that countries should prioritize vaccines for specific groups, as well as for close contacts of a confirmed case, in order to maximize its impact considering the limited supply.
Monkeypox is already in 24 countries of the American continent
The CEO of the World Health Organization declared on July 23 the outbreak of monkeypox as a public health emergency of international importance.
The outbreak began in mid-May and has so far affected 89 countries around the world.
In the American continent more than 10,000 cases of the disease have been reported in 24 countries since the start of the outbreaka figure that represents 38% of global cases.
“The declaration of a public health emergency of international importance came with detailed recommendations both for countries and territories that have not detected any cases and for those that already have imported cases or transmission in their communities,” Etienne stressed.
The director of the agency added that she believes that the transmission of the disease virus can be stopped “when the recommended measures are properly applied.”
Among the suggestions to put into practice that the Organization works with the Member States include risk communication and the participation of affected communities, early detection and surveillance, treatment and isolation of patients, and follow-up of contacts.
However, Etienne added that “pre-exposure or post-exposure vaccination could be a complement to other measures.”
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