As the monkeypox epidemic progresses, the WHO warns that there are not vaccines for everyone. The organization therefore recommends prioritizing those who are most at risk, such as people with multiple sexual partners and those treating the disease or doing research.
“It is important to emphasize that vaccination does not protect against infection or disease instantly and this can take several weeks,” warned Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the WHO. Once vaccinated, it is therefore necessary to continue to take precautions.
“This epidemic can be stopped, if countries, communities and individuals inform themselves, take the risks seriously and adopt the necessary measures to stop transmission and protect vulnerable groups”, explains Dr. Tedros.
The organization stresses that it would be good to avoid the mistakes made in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic, when rich countries have monopolized almost all the available vaccines for many months, and to share the available doses fairly. .
One effective vaccine
Currently, only one smallpox vaccine has been approved by the European Union against monkeypox. But the availability of this vaccine produced by the Danish laboratory Bavarian Nordic is not immediate. Most of the 16 million doses are in bulk and it will take “several months” for them to be available in ready-to-use vials.
Vaccination is carried out with two doses, spaced at least 28 days apart. For people vaccinated against smallpox in childhood, one dose is enough. For the immunocompromised a third dose is recommended.
According to the Pasteur Institute, this vaccine would be 85% effective against the virus.
Outside endemic areas in Africa, more than 18,000 cases of monkeypox have been detected worldwide since early May. The disease has been reported in 78 countries so far and 70% of cases are concentrated in Europe.