Multiple monkeypox vaccines are available in India and worldwide. The Mpox vaccine is basically the vaccine that was used for smallpox but is also equally effective for Mpox. It is given to healthcare workers and people working closely with infected people. These vaccines are quite effective in treating the condition and reducing its symptoms. Let’s delve into the details of the effectiveness of vaccines that are available for monkeypox disease.
How can I prevent Mpox?
The monkeypox disease started in a small space, in monkeys kept for research and spread across the world. The disease is similar to smallpox, originating from the same family of diseases (Orthopoxvirus genus). Since the outbreak of the monkeypox disease, there has been a lot of research to prevent this disease. There are various types of vaccines available now against the monkeypox disease. Since the disease is genetically similar to smallpox, the smallpox vaccine (Vaccinia Virus Vaccine) is also used as a vaccine in India.
Also, the JYNNEOS (Imvamune or Imvanex) vaccine is proven effective for both smallpox and Mpox. It was first approved in the United States in 2019 and is also known by the names Imvamune (in Canada) and Imvanex (in Europe). As a live, non-replicating vaccine, JYNNEOS uses a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus to stimulate an immune response without causing disease. It was originally developed as the safer option for older smallpox vaccines, especially for immunocompromised people, because it does not replicate in the body.
Another vaccine used for Mpox is ACAM2000. It is an old vaccine, developed for the treatment of smallpox initially. Moreover, it is derived from the vaccinia virus and is a live, replicating vaccine, which contains live viruses that can replicate in the body. It was developed as a replacement for the first-generation smallpox vaccine. Although effective, this vaccine can have more side effects because of the live viruses present in them.
Dr Almas Fatma, MBBS, Diploma in Family Medicine, PG in Digital Health, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, says, “The smallpox vaccine is an effective vaccine for treating Mpox disease. Also, the JYNNEOS vaccine is available in certain countries, specifically approved for Mpox prevention.” Like any other vaccines, several factors will come into play here. Thus, keeping the updates are necessary.
How effective are these vaccines?
JYNNEOS is the most commonly used vaccine. It is mostly given to healthcare workers, family members of infected people, and people in the outbreak areas. It is a non-replicating vaccine, meaning, it does not contain live viruses so it does not cause an active infection in the vaccinated person. In simple words, it does not cause many side effects. Most importantly, it is safe for people with weakened immune systems.
ACAM2000 is also an effective monkeypox vaccine. However, as we discussed above, it contains live viruses that replicate inside our body to build immunity against the disease. Therefore, it generally causes side effects like pain at the injection site, itchy skin (pruritus) and lymph node pain. It is not recommended for immunocompromised people and people with other health conditions.
Currently, India does not have a large-scale vaccination campaign specifically for monkeypox mostly because very few cases of Mpox have been seen in our country. However, the government is actively making efforts to ensure the availability of the monkeypox vaccine if any cases arise. The government is also in close contact with the producers of JYNNEOS and ACAM2000 to ensure the same.
Who should consider getting vaccinated?
Currently, people who are at high risk of getting infected with the disease should consider the Mpox vaccine. People who are working in the healthcare sector, working closely with Mpox-infected patients are among the top priority. Also, people from high-risk exposure groups such as lab workers and veterinarians who work closely with animals might carry the virus. WHO and CDC recommend vaccination for people living in regions where there is a higher likelihood of exposure. Readers should know that Mpox is not airborne. They have directed countries experiencing outbreaks to prioritise vaccination. Also, vulnerable populations like people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and children may consider vaccination.
In India, the general guidelines are still evolving and the general approach is to monitor the symptoms and ensure that vaccines are available for high-risk groups. The general population should look for the common symptoms of the disease and report them to the authorities.
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