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Among the reports of monkey pox growing in range, there is information about the effectiveness of the smallpox vaccine against the disease. How much truth is there? How long does this protection last? Can people who received such a vaccine several decades ago feel safe? We asked prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska from the Department of Virology and Immunology at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.
- The monkey pox virus is related to the smallpox virus, therefore vaccination against the latter disease may also be effective in the case of the now spreading monkey pox.
- As explained by prof. Szuster-Ciesielska protection after taking the smallpox vaccine in the first years after injection is almost 100%.
- Thereafter, the level of protection drops somewhat, but is still high – the vaccine may be effective for decades. There is a known case of protection 75 years after injection
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage
Smallpox and monkey pox
Smallpox (or black pox) is an infectious disease that has taken millions of lives over the centuries (mortality due to infection with the virus causing the disease was up to 30%). The last case of her disease was in 1978.Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1980 recognized smallpox as an eradicated or eliminated disease.
It was possible thanks to mass preventive vaccinations and the effectiveness of the administered preparations. In Poland, vaccination against smallpox lasted from 1951 to 1980.
The monkey pox virus is related to the smallpox virus, it is called its milder version. Importantly, both monkey pox and smallpox have nothing to do with chickenpox – they are completely different diseases caused by a different type of virus. Which is why Vaccination against chickenpox does not protect against monkey pox.
Smallpox vaccine – effective in protecting against smallpox
According to research conducted in Africa smallpox vaccine protects 85 percent. against monkey pox. This is good news, but considering the fact that smallpox has not been diagnosed for 44 years, and vaccination against the disease in Poland ceased 42 years ago, it raises questions.
The rest of the text below the video.
Who exactly is protected from monkey pox? If I got vaccinated against smallpox in the 50s, 60s or 70s, can I feel safe? Is smallpox vaccination getting old, and to what extent?
Smallpox vaccine is very effective, guarantees very high, almost XNUMX% protection up to five years after injection. Later, its effectiveness begins to decline. However, even with a lower level of protection, it still protects against smallpox for decades. In one of the scientific works, we can read that this protection still existed after 75 years.
It all depends on the vaccine. The one against smallpox was constructed on the basis of a live vaccinia virus that was not weakened in any way – and such vaccines are the most effective. For comparison, vaccines based on an inactivated, i.e. killed virus, most often have to be administered several times to maintain a higher level of protection
Monkey pox – available vaccines
There are currently two smallpox vaccines on the market that may also be effective against smallpox.
The first is a preparation from Bavarian Nordic (BAVA.CO), which is known as Jynneos, Imvamune or Imvanex. It contains a weakened form of the virus. It is authorized in the European Union as a preparation to protect against smallpox, however, in justified cases, the doctor may also prescribe it as part of the monkey pox prophylaxis.
Can your body cope with the pathogen? What is the condition of your immune system? You can check it by taking blood tests. You can find a package of immunity tests on the Medonet Market.
The second vaccine is ACAM2000, produced by Emergent Biosolutions (EBS. N). It differs from Jynneos in the way it is produced – it is made using a live cow pox virus (it is related to the smallpox virus). This preparation is not marketed in EU countries, it is available in the United States.
According to information provided by WHO, the organization has reserves of the smallpox vaccine (2,4 million doses) that can be used in the event of a new epidemic.
List of countries where cases of monkey pox have been identified:
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