EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides called the decision a“extremely important”. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) authorized, on Friday August 19, a new technique for injecting the monkeypox vaccine, which will make it possible to immunize more people.
European countries can now administer, “ as a temporary measure, the Imvanex vaccine just under the upper layer of the skin – intradermally – and no longer deep down – subcutaneously – as is currently the case.
Vaccinate “five times more people” with current stocks
This technique involves using only one-fifth of the dose, the EMA pointed out in a press release, and allows ” protect those at risk during the current outbreak of monkeypox, as long as vaccine supplies remain limited”.
This method confers the same immunity with an equivalent level of antibodies as the method used until now. By contrast, the risk of skin irritation is higher, the watchdog warned.
European Commissioner Stella Kyriakides welcomed this authorization, which ” makes it possible to vaccinate five times more people with the stocks of vaccines we have” currently. “This guarantees better access to vaccination for people at risk and healthcare professionals”she added in a press release.