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Electron micrograph of the monkeypox virus
Photo: Andrea Männel / dpa
131 cases of monkeypox are known in Germany so far, and other European countries have also registered cases of this viral infection.
In certain cases, the Standing Vaccination Commission now recommends vaccination with the smallpox vaccine Imavex, which is approved in the EU.
It could also be used to protect against monkeypox, the panel said.
The recommendation must go through a commenting procedure.
If nothing changes there, Stiko will recommend vaccination in the following cases:
As part of post-exposure prophylaxis, i.e. after close contact with a sick person - the
Stiko
cites household contacts, sexual contacts and longer unprotected face-to-face contact as examples.
The committee also recommends vaccination for risky contacts in the medical field or in the laboratory.
This vaccination should be given to people over the age of 18 as early as possible within two weeks after the risk contact.
As an
indication vaccination
for persons at increased risk: These are
»
men who have same-sex sexual contacts with changing partners;
The reason is that cases in Germany have so far only been found among men in the MSM community (men who have sex with men, editor's note).
occurred and this group should therefore be given special protection," says Stiko.
And on the other hand »staff in special laboratories with specific activities with infectious laboratory samples containing orthopox material, after individual risk assessment by safety officers.«
Since the smallpox vaccine will initially only be available to a limited extent, Stiko recommends giving it to people who are particularly at risk of infection.
The basic immunization consists of two doses of vaccine 28 days apart.
Those who have been vaccinated against smallpox in the past only need one dose.
Monkeypox is related to smallpox, which killed millions of people every year for centuries until the disease was eradicated in 1980.
However, monkeypox is far less dangerous.
Most patients recover within a few weeks, and fatal outcomes are rare.
AFP/wbr
