Is the monkeypox vaccine coming?

World Medical Director Montgomery calls concern for people under 40

Created: 05/25/2022, 08:46

By: Anna Lorenz

Vaccination against monkeypox could possibly ease the situation - but would Germany be set up accordingly?

© Christian Ohde/imago

Cases of monkeypox in Germany have already surfaced several times - the health authorities are now examining whether an existing smallpox vaccine against the virus can be recommended.

Berlin – After the corona virus, the rapid spread of monkeypox is now occupying virologists and other health experts.

Six cases have now been reported in Germany.

The Federal Ministry of Health already states that “due to the many contacts of those currently infected in Europe and also in Germany, further diseases are to be expected”.

The authorities are now examining to what extent a conventional smallpox vaccination can stop the spread of the monkeypox virus.

Monkeypox in Germany: Vaccination against smallpox as protection against the virus?

"The extent to which smallpox vaccination is recommended for contact persons and risk groups is still the subject of technical clarification," says a message from the ministry to the health committee of the Bundestag.

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) announced on Monday that the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) was already working on recommendations for dealing with the virus.

On Tuesday, Lauterbach made a corresponding recommendation regarding the current situation, in which Lothar Wieler, President of the RKI, and the Chairman of the German Medical Association, Klaus Reinhardt, also took part.

See the video: Federal Minister of Health Lauterbach wants to "govern quickly and harshly"

In the course of this, the question of the usefulness of a protective vaccination is now being raised in public.

Since smallpox was long thought to have been eradicated, many citizens are not vaccinated against this type of virus;

a vaccine designed specifically for monkeypox does not exist.

“A smallpox vaccine containing modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) has been approved in the EU.

Vaccination is currently being offered to close contacts in the UK,” says virologist Sandra Ciesek from the University of Frankfurt am Main.

The smallpox vaccination used up to now protects up to 85 percent against an infection with monkeypox.

However, the vaccine, of which the federal government stocks around one hundred million doses - two million doses of which are donated to the WHO - is known for "compared to the other currently recommended

.

Vaccination against monkey pox?

Germany is examining protection options against the virus

When making decisions in the face of this dilemma, politicians obviously rely decisively on the advice of medical research bodies.

"We need a prompt statement from Stiko as to whether the vaccine, which is only approved in the EU for vaccination against smallpox, can also be used against monkeypox," said Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) to the German news portal

.

While the federal and state governments are waiting for advice from Stiko, WHO and RKI, the chairman of the World Medical Association, Frank Ulrich Montgomery, spoke to the

in favor of vaccination.

"Whoever is vaccinated against smallpox has good protection."

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The doctor pointed out that those born after 1980, who usually have not received a smallpox vaccination, would be more at risk of contracting monkeypox.

The previous infections in Germany are probably based on contacts in the course of celebrations and parties and probably took place in the context of sexual acts.

"It would therefore make sense to offer a vaccination now to all younger people who are no longer subject to the smallpox vaccination requirement," says Montgomery.

Particularly at risk are "usually younger men with many changing sexual contacts".

(askl)