The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday issued approval to the world's first vaccine that can fight malaria, a disease that kills about 500,000 worldwide each year.

The WHO announced the virus' new name, "mpox" amid concerns about stigma and discrimination. The World Health Organization announced Monday that "mpox" is now the preferred name for monkeypox.

Vaccination – As of June 2025, approximately 2.9 million mpox vaccine doses have been distributed across the African continent, the majority to the DRC, which has received about 2.5 million doses.

Edo State Coordinator of WHO, Dr. Eyo Nora, said the vaccine was safe. He said 2, 500 doses of vaccines were expected to be distributed to the six targeted local governments.

The guidelines for management of mpox align with the WHO’s broader guidance for rapid treatment initiation in new cases of HIV, according to the WHO’s press release.

These developments reinforce the urgent global need for diversified, scalable vaccine platforms amid critical shortages and growing international spread of more virulent Mpox strains.