The mpox vaccine has been given provisional approval by Medsafe.
This means that health services can now promote the vaccine with those groups who require protection.
It also means our public health professionals will have an easier task in promoting it to the right groups and it will help simplify accessing the vaccine for those who most need it.
The provisional approval of the Jynneos vaccine covers the vaccine already in New Zealand.
This means New Zealand joins the countries which have approved the use of the vaccine.
Medsafe and Health New Zealand have been working closely on getting this vaccine approved as Health New Zealand has acted as the intermediary for the company in this instance.
Medsafe says the provisional approval, based on the information provided by Health New Zealand, means the vaccine meets international standards for efficacy, quality and safety when used for groups at risk of mpox.
The provisional approval sets out a number of conditions where further information about the vaccine will be provided.
Any Medsafe approval carries requirements for further reporting. These reporting requirements are much more specific under provisional approvals, reflecting the emphasis on more vigilant monitoring associated with newer products.
The National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group will now be reviewing which groups are at greatest risk and most likely to benefit from the vaccine now that the provisional approval is in place.
