A single dose of monkeypox vaccine offers some protection against infection, according to CDC

People at risk of monkeypox who have never been vaccinated are 14 times more likely to be infected than those who have been vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Preliminary data collected from 32 states from late July through early September are the first to suggest that the Jynneos vaccine offers at least some protection against infection from the monkeypox virus circulating in the current outbreak. This is concrete evidence.

“These new data provide us with cautious optimism that the vaccine is working as intended,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Wallenski told reporters during an update Wednesday. Told.

The data show that even a single dose of the vaccine provides initial protection against infection two weeks after vaccination, Wallenski said. 2 doses.

Wallenski says that while the data on one dose are promising, laboratory studies show that immune protection is highest two weeks after the second dose.

“In light of these encouraging data, that is why we continue to strongly recommend two doses of the Jynneos vaccine 28 days apart to ensure durable and sustained immune protection against monkeypox.” Walensky said.

Monkeypox is spread primarily among gay and bisexual men through close skin-to-skin contact during sex. The virus is rarely fatal, but it causes a very painful blister-like rash that can lead to hospitalization in some cases.

The CDC director said people who are vaccinated should protect themselves from infection by avoiding close contact with monkeypox patients and reducing behaviors that put them at high risk of monkeypox exposure. .

When asked about when vaccinated individuals will be able to resume normal sexual activity, Wallenski said the CDC is waiting for real data on the effectiveness of the second vaccination. rice field.

“What we have now is data on how effective the vaccine is in one dose and how it performs. What happens after the second dose and how much protection is there? No word yet on how durable it will be.

This is the first time the US is using Jynneos to control a monkeypox outbreak. As a result, there is little data on the actual effectiveness of vaccines. The Food and Drug Administration first approved his Jynneos vaccine in 2019 based on human immune response data.