Faced with the rise in cases of monkeypox and the difficulties in tracing the chains of contamination, France announced on Friday the extension of vaccination to the most exposed groups, in particular homosexuals. Today, the CHU of Angers today announces the first 5 cases in Maine-et-Loire.
French health authorities announced last Friday the extension of vaccination against monkey pox (Monkeypox) to the most exposed categories. The reason ? An increase in cases but also the difficulties in tracing the chains of contamination. This vaccination will be proposed preventively to men having relations with men in particular but also to people in a situation of prostitution.
Who can get vaccinated?
Before last Friday, vaccination was only offered to adults, including caregivers, who had risky contact with a patient. About 700 people have been vaccinated. But “Faced with the spread of the Monkeypox virus, the kinetics of the epidemic and the difficulties of tracing the contacts of infected people”the High Health Authority recommended expanding vaccination to be able to administer it preventively to those most exposed by “their sexual practices or their profession”.
The possibility of preventive vaccination now concerns:
-Men who have sex with men
-Trans people reporting multiple sexual partners
-People in prostitution
-Professionals in places of sexual consumption
-People in contact with infected patients
As of July 21, France had 1,567 cases, mainly in Ile-de-France with 726 sick people, according to the latest report from Public Health France. New Aquitaine has 72 cases, against 123 in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, 97 in Occitanie or 55 in the PACA region. Maine-et-Loire currently has 5 first cases, 3 other possible cases are awaiting results
What vaccines are used?
Two vaccines are available in France, Imvanex, in the European version, and Jynneos in the American version, third-generation vaccines (live vaccines that do not replicate in the human body), produced by Bavarian Nordic. “We are now in a position to meet the needs of the centers in the coming weeks”, assured Jérôme Salomon, the Director General of Health. Vaccination is carried out with two doses, spaced 28 days apart. For people vaccinated against smallpox in the past, a single dose is sufficient. For the immunocompromised, a third is recommended.
Where to get vaccinated?
Today, the CHU d’Angers is the department’s vaccination center for monkeypox and provides for the vaccination of 25 people per day. The opening of a vaccination antenna in Cholet is under consideration.
The Angevin hospital offers 3 mornings of consultation and vaccination from Wednesday to Friday.
To make an appointment, patients are invited to call 02 41 35 39 30.