Brady Collins
The recent outbreak of monkeypox, or mpox, has raised concerns about the protection offered by the smallpox vaccine. Studies suggest that the smallpox vaccine provides some level of immunity against monkeypox, with vaccinated individuals having a lower risk of infection compared to unvaccinated individuals. The smallpox vaccine has been found to reduce the risk of severe monkeypox infection and decrease the overall risk of monkeypox by 5.2-folds. However, the protective immunity against monkeypox is limited and declines over time. The smallpox/monkeypox vaccine, JYNNEOS, has been approved for prevention in adults at high risk, and ACAM2000 is another option for those at high risk.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does an old smallpox vaccine protect against monkeypox? | Studies suggest that the smallpox vaccine is 80.7% efficacious in preventing monkeypox and that immunity provided by prior smallpox vaccination is long-lasting. |
| How does the smallpox vaccine prevent monkeypox? | The smallpox/monkeypox vaccine JYNNEOS™ is made using a weakened live vaccinia virus and cannot cause smallpox, monkeypox, or any other infectious disease. |
| Who is the smallpox/monkeypox vaccine recommended for? | The CDC recommends JYNNEOS™ for certain laboratory workers and emergency response team members who might be exposed to the viruses that cause orthopoxvirus infections. It is also approved for individuals 18 years or older who are at high risk of smallpox or monkeypox infection. |
| How is the smallpox/monkeypox vaccine administered? | JYNNEOS™ is usually administered as a series of 2 injections, 4 weeks apart. People who have received a smallpox vaccine in the past might only need 1 dose. |
| Are there any side effects to the smallpox/monkeypox vaccine? | Common side effects include redness, soreness, swelling, and itching where the shot is given. Fatigue, headache, and muscle pain can also sometimes occur. |
| Are there any alternative vaccines for monkeypox? | ACAM2000® is another live, replicating vaccinia virus vaccine approved for the prevention of smallpox and monkeypox. However, it is associated with certain serious adverse reactions such as myocarditis and pericarditis. |
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What You'll Learn
- Smallpox vaccination may provide long-lasting immunity against monkeypox
- The smallpox vaccine decreases the risk of monkeypox by 5.2-fold
- Vaccinated people have higher immunity and fewer adverse events than the unvaccinated
- The smallpox vaccine is 80.7% efficacious in preventing monkeypox
- The JYNNEOS™ smallpox/monkeypox vaccine is approved for adults at high risk of infection
Smallpox vaccination may provide long-lasting immunity against monkeypox
Monkeypox is a rare virus that spreads through direct physical contact with an infected individual or their bodily fluids. It can also be transmitted by touching items that have come into contact with the infectious rash or bodily fluids of an infected person. The disease is endemic to central and west Africa, but in May 2022, it began to appear in Europe and the United States. Since then, there has been an increase in monkeypox cases, particularly in highly endemic areas, as well as a spread to neighboring countries.
The smallpox vaccine, which was withdrawn in the 1980s, has been found to provide some protection against monkeypox. Studies have shown that the smallpox vaccine is approximately 80-85% efficacious in preventing monkeypox infection and that the immunity provided is long-lasting. People who have been previously vaccinated against smallpox have been found to have higher immunity and fewer adverse events after vaccination compared to those receiving the vaccine for the first time. Additionally, the smallpox vaccination decreases the risk of human monkeypox by 5.2 times.
The JYNNEOS™ vaccine, which is made using a weakened live vaccinia virus, is approved by the FDA for the prevention of smallpox and monkeypox disease in adults 18 years or older who are at high risk of infection. It is typically administered as a series of two injections, four weeks apart. However, people who have received the smallpox vaccine in the past may only need one dose. Booster doses are recommended every two or ten years for those who remain at continued risk of exposure to monkeypox or other orthopoxviruses.
While the smallpox vaccine may provide some protection against monkeypox, it is not currently included in any country's routine vaccination regimen. More research is needed to fully understand the cross-protection offered by the smallpox vaccine and to guide the current monkeypox epidemic.
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The smallpox vaccine decreases the risk of monkeypox by 5.2-fold
The smallpox vaccine decreases the risk of monkeypox infection by 5.2-fold. This means that the smallpox vaccine offers significant protection against monkeypox.
The smallpox vaccine has been found to be highly effective in preventing monkeypox infection. Studies have shown that people who have been previously vaccinated against smallpox have higher immunity and a lower risk of developing monkeypox compared to those who have not been vaccinated. The protection provided by the smallpox vaccine is long-lasting, and it is believed that adults who received the smallpox vaccine during the nationwide program from the late 1940s to 1972 may still have continuing immunity.
The smallpox vaccine works by triggering the body's immune system to produce antibodies that can recognize and fight off the monkeypox virus. The vaccine contains a weakened form of the vaccinia virus, which is similar to the monkeypox virus. When a person is vaccinated, their body produces antibodies that can also recognize and neutralize the monkeypox virus, preventing infection or reducing the severity of the disease.
The JYNNEOS™ vaccine, which is a live virus vaccine containing Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN), is specifically designed to prevent both smallpox and monkeypox in adults aged 18 and older who are at high risk of infection. It is administered as two doses, given four weeks apart, and has been approved by the FDA for emergency use.
While the smallpox vaccine provides strong protection against monkeypox, it is important to note that it may not offer complete immunity. Some breakthrough infections may still occur, especially as the monkeypox virus continues to evolve. However, even in cases of infection, the vaccine can help reduce the severity of symptoms and lower the risk of serious adverse events compared to those who are unvaccinated.
In summary, the smallpox vaccine significantly decreases the risk of monkeypox infection by boosting the body's immune response to the virus. It offers long-lasting protection and is an essential tool in preventing the spread of monkeypox and reducing the impact of the disease.
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Vaccinated people have higher immunity and fewer adverse events than the unvaccinated
Monkeypox is a rare virus that spreads through direct physical contact with an infected individual or their bodily fluids. The disease can also be transmitted by touching items that have come into contact with the infectious rash or bodily fluids of an infected person. It is believed that adults who received the smallpox vaccine during the nationwide program from the late 1940s until 1972 may have continuing immunity against monkeypox.
Several studies have shown that smallpox vaccination can provide long-lasting immunity against monkeypox. A systematic review of relevant studies found that the smallpox vaccine is 80.7% efficacious in preventing monkeypox, and the immunity it provides is long-lasting. Another study from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) found that unvaccinated participants had a significantly higher risk of contracting monkeypox compared to those who had been vaccinated. Similar findings were reported in studies conducted in the USA and Spain.
The JYNNEOS™ vaccine, made using a weakened live vaccinia virus, is approved by the FDA for the prevention of smallpox and monkeypox in adults aged 18 and older who are at high risk of infection. It is usually administered as a series of two injections, four weeks apart. People who have previously received the smallpox vaccine may only need one dose of JYNNEOS™. This vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective, with fewer serious adverse events reported compared to those receiving the first smallpox vaccine.
In contrast, the ACAM2000® vaccine, a live, replicating vaccinia virus vaccine, has been associated with certain serious adverse reactions, such as myocarditis and pericarditis. About 1 in every 175 people who received the ACAM2000® vaccine for the first time experienced these serious side effects. Therefore, the JYNNEOS™ vaccine is generally preferred, especially for immunocompromised individuals.
While the smallpox vaccine can provide some protection against monkeypox, it is important to note that the immunity may wane over time. The protective immunity rate against monkeypox is limited, even among those previously immunized against smallpox. Therefore, booster doses may be recommended every two to ten years for individuals who remain at continued risk of exposure to monkeypox or other orthopoxviruses.
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The smallpox vaccine is 80.7% efficacious in preventing monkeypox
The smallpox vaccine has been found to be 80.7% efficacious in preventing monkeypox. The smallpox vaccination decreases the risk of contracting monkeypox by 5.2-fold. Studies have shown that the risk of contracting monkeypox is 2.73 to 9.64 times higher for unvaccinated individuals than for those who have been vaccinated.
Monkeypox is a rare virus that spreads through direct physical contact with an infected individual or their bodily fluids. It can also be transmitted by touching items, fabrics, or surfaces that have been in contact with the infectious rash or bodily fluids of an infected person. The disease is endemic to Central and West Africa, but in May 2022, it began to spread to other parts of the world, including Europe and the United States.
The smallpox vaccine, JYNNEOS™, is made using a weakened live vaccinia virus and is approved by the FDA for the prevention of smallpox and monkeypox in adults aged 18 and older who are at high risk of infection. It is usually administered as a series of two injections, four weeks apart. People who have previously received the smallpox vaccine may only need one dose. Booster doses are recommended every two to ten years for those who remain at continued risk of exposure to monkeypox or other orthopoxviruses.
The smallpox vaccine has been found to provide long-lasting immunity against monkeypox, with some studies suggesting that it offers approximately 85% protection. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness of the smallpox vaccine in preventing monkeypox, and it is not currently included in any country's routine vaccination regimen.
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The JYNNEOS™ smallpox/monkeypox vaccine is approved for adults at high risk of infection
The smallpox vaccine has been found to be effective in preventing monkeypox infection. Studies have shown that the smallpox vaccine decreases the risk of contracting monkeypox by 5.2 times. The smallpox vaccination campaign was stopped in the 1980s, and it is believed that this has led to an increase in monkeypox cases.
The JYNNEOS™ smallpox/monkeypox vaccine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults 18 years and older who are at high risk of contracting smallpox or monkeypox. The CDC recommends the JYNNEOS™ vaccine for certain laboratory workers and emergency response team members who may be exposed to orthopoxvirus infections. The vaccine is also recommended for people who administer ACAM2000® or care for patients infected with orthopoxviruses.
JYNNEOS™ is a live, non-replicating vaccine that cannot cause smallpox, monkeypox, or any other infectious disease. It is usually administered as a series of two injections, four weeks apart. People who have previously received a smallpox vaccine may only need one dose. Booster doses are recommended every two or ten years for those who remain at risk of exposure.
JYNNEOS™ has been found to be effective in preventing monkeypox infection, with lower infection rates in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. However, it is important to note that the vaccine may not protect all recipients, and there is a very remote chance of a severe allergic reaction or other serious injury. The most common side effects include redness, soreness, swelling, and itching at the injection site, as well as fatigue, headache, and muscle pain.
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Frequently asked questions
Studies suggest that the smallpox vaccine is 80.7% efficacious in preventing monkeypox and that prior vaccination provides long-lasting immunity. The smallpox vaccine decreases the risk of monkeypox by 5.2-folds.
The rate of decline in smallpox immunity is 1.29% per year.
Monkeypox causes an acute febrile illness with skin sores. Other symptoms include a painful or itchy rash and flu-like symptoms.
Monkeypox spreads through direct physical contact with an infected individual or with their bodily fluids. It can also spread by touching items that have come into contact with the infectious rash or bodily fluids.
Yes, there are two FDA-approved vaccines for the prevention of monkeypox: JYNNEOS and ACAM2000.
