Monkeypox, there are two vaccines available

There are two smallpox vaccines that could be used against monkeypox, one is produced by Emergent BioSolution, an American company, the second by the European Bavarian Nordic, based in Denmark.

The journal Science on its website takes stock of the two vaccines currently available in Europe and North America, which are currently not being administered.

Smallpox was a serious scourge, capable of killing 30% of infected people, but thanks to a widespread vaccination campaign in the 60s and 70s it was eradicated.

In fact it is the only pathogen so far completely eliminated, if we exclude some samples kept in the laboratory for study purposes.

The drastic reduction in cases in the early 1970s had gradually led to a reduction in the administration of vaccines as the side effects of treatment (with approximately one death for every million vaccinated) had now outweighed the potential benefits.

Since then, production has practically stopped and to date there are only two smallpox vaccines available, capable of protecting even from monkeypox: that of the American Emergent BioSolutions, considered similar to the vaccine used during the eradication campaign and can still cause reactions. severe in people who have compromised immune systems;

the other, from Bavarian Nordic, uses a non-replicating form of vaccinia, a virus very similar to smallpox, specifically designed to cause fewer side effects.

The latter, points out the article in Science, is the only vaccine explicitly approved for monkeypox.

The two vaccines are able to prevent the disease even if used up to 4 days from exposure to the virus and could therefore be used to protect those who have come into contact with the infected but, although they are available, at the moment the two vaccines are not available in any country. they are currently prescribed, neither country has announced plans to use them, and both stocks are currently low.