Are there vaccines against Mpox? How effective are they? – Firstpost

Mpox has attracted worldwide attention since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease a global health emergency last week. A new and potentially more contagious strain – Clade 1b – of the disease is spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The viral infection, formerly known as monkeypox, has been reported in five African countries this year: Sweden, Pakistan and the Philippines. As rising cases raise concerns around the world, questions are raising among COVID-stricken populations about vaccines to protect against the disease.

Let's take a closer look.

What is mpox?

Mpox is a viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus.

The orthopoxvirus family includes the variola virus, which causes smallpox, the cowpox virus and the vaccinia virus.

The most common symptoms of Mpox include skin lesions, fever, headache, muscle and back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

The disease is transmitted through physical contact with infected people, materials or animals.

The WHO declared the highest alert level for MPOX last week, pointing out that 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been reported in Africa this year.

The United Nations health agency last declared Mpox a global health emergency in 2022, when a milder strain called Clade 2 caused the outbreak.

Is there a vaccine against Mpox?

There are vaccines against monkeypox, but none that specifically target the monkeypox virus.

Since viruses of the genus Orthopoxvirus are genetically similar, vaccines developed to protect against other viruses can also be used against MPOX, reported DW.

In conversation with India todayDr Rajeev Jayadevan, infectious disease expert and member of IMA Kochi, said, “There is no vaccine specifically developed against the Mpox virus. When the global Mpox outbreak occurred in 2022, we hoped that the smallpox vaccine could provide cross-protection against Mpox.”

Vaccines that protect against Mpox are subject to cross-reactivity. For example, there are viruses M, V and C from the genus Orthopoxvirus, which are structurally similar. A vaccine that protects against virus C is also effective against viruses M and V.

Antibodies produced by a person infected with the variola virus also protect them against Mpox infection.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recommends that travellers be vaccinated against MPOX when visiting affected areas in Africa.

What vaccines are available?

There are currently several vaccines against Mpox, including Jynneos (MVA-BN) and Acam2000.

The MVA-BN vaccine, or Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic, has been approved by the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union/European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and Canada.

The modified vaccinia Ankara vaccine was developed in the 1950s and was used to prevent smallpox. Its current form, MVA-BN, is reportedly marketed under the names Jynneos, Imvamune and Imvanex.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light to ACAM2000 to protect against smallpox and micropox.

In 2022, Japan approved the smallpox vaccine LC16 for use against Mpox. Russia approved OrthopoxVac for vaccination against smallpox, Mpox and other orthopoxviruses in the same year.

A new mRNA vaccine – BNT166 – is being developed to specifically target monkeypox virus antigens, reported DW.

Are these vaccines effective?

Yes. According to the WHO, vaccination can help prevent MPOX.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of vaccine for “maximum” protection against MPOX.

Previous studies have shown that the smallpox vaccine is about 85 percent effective against smallpox. However, people who have received a smallpox vaccine appear to be more likely to contract smallpox, reported DW.

“As far as vaccines against Mpox are concerned, smallpox vaccines provide significant protection due to the close genetic relationship between the two viruses. There are currently two vaccines in use. The smallpox vaccine (vaccinia virus vaccine) has been shown to provide cross-protection against Mpox due to the genetic similarities between the two viruses. This vaccine was originally developed to eradicate smallpox and since the two viruses belong to the same family, the immunity conferred by the smallpox vaccine can actually reduce the severity of Mpox or prevent it altogether,” said Dr. Giridhar Babu, epidemiologist, physician and scientist and author on global health and infectious diseases. India today.

The antiviral drug tecovirimat, also known as TPOXX, is also widely used to treat Mpox. However, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) said last week that the drug did not speed up recovery in a clinical trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo infected with the new strain of Mpox.

With contributions from agencies