What You Need to Know About Monkeypox Virus Infection
Summary
While we see more monkeypox
cases, the vaccine is still highly effective at preventing serious illnesses.
If you're in a high-risk category or think you've been exposed to monkeypox,
see your doctor immediately once.
Monkeypox infection outbreaks
The vaccine isn't as effective as
you may imagine.
The World Health Organization
(WHO) identified breakthrough monkeypox infection instances after preliminary
vaccination reporting. Rosamund Lewis, M.D., C.M., WHO's technical head for
monkeypox infection, discussed breakthrough cases at a press briefing.
"We knew from the beginning
that this vaccine wouldn't be a silver bullet, that it wouldn't match all
expectations, and that we don't have strong efficacy or effectiveness
data," said Dr Lewis. She explained that certain cases are being reported,
possibly as breakthrough cases, after post-exposure vaccination, which is
designed to lower illness severity, or after preventive vaccination, which is meant
to reduce infection.
"We don't yet have
randomized control trials on that, but the fact that we're seeing breakthrough
cases is also incredibly important because it tells us the vaccine isn't 100%
effective in any given setting, preventive or post-exposure." Dr Lewis
said we can't expect 100% efficacy based on current data.
Dr Lewis reiterated that we see
cases and that anyone who wants to lower their risk has many options, including
vaccination, avoiding risky activities, reducing their number of sexual partners,
avoiding group or casual sex, and waiting until a vaccine has time to produce a
maximum immune response.
Two weeks after the second dosage
of the monkeypox vaccine.
Dr Lewis says people must wait
until the vaccination generates a maximum immunological response before
determining its overall effectiveness.
Monkeypox vaccination
effectiveness?
Richard Watkins, M.D., an
infectious disease specialist and professor at Northeast Ohio Medical
University, claims the immunizations are 85% successful in preventing monkeypox
infection.
Vaccines protect against
monkeypox if given before exposure, says the CDC. ACAM2000 and JYNNEOSTM (also
known as Imvamune or Imvanex) are licenced in the US to prevent smallpox and
monkeypox infections.
According to the CDC, African
historical evidence indicates that the smallpox vaccine is at least 85%
effective at preventing monkeypox infection. The CDC says African research
suggests the smallpox vaccine is 85% effective against monkeypox infection.
Breakthrough monkeypox: cause for concern?
It's unclear how often
breakthrough infections develop after vaccination. But vaccination efficacy
indicates breakthrough cases. Amesh Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at Johns
Hopkins Center for Health Security, said data must be analyzed rigorously to
ensure the vaccine is protective. Numerous breakthrough cases, he continues,
"could have happened in people who just received a single dosage of the
vaccine, which is going to be less efficacious than that approved two-dose
regimen."
"No vaccine is 100%
effective. Therefore breakthrough monkeypox cases are inevitable," says Dr
Watkins. However, breakthrough cases are rare. The monkeypox outbreak is
continuous, so it's hard to forecast how many people will get it.
What's the best monkeypox prevention?
Avoid intimate contact with
infected people and be vaccinated to avoid the infection. Dr Adalja said
vaccination is the best protection against monkeypox for at-risk groups. Dr
Watkins advises avoiding intimate contact with monkeypox patients.
"Infected people must segregate until the rash clears and new skin
forms."
