Questions about how well a single shot may protect against the monkeypox virus are being raised because of the shortage of vaccine doses in the US.
Most people at risk of infections have been getting one dose of the vaccine if they can find it. Federal officials are considering a dose-sparing strategy, which gives shots that each contain just one-fifth of a single dose, because of the current shortage.
One shot is enough for most recipients, and there is some evidence that even smaller shots can be effective. Some experts think that people with H.I.V. and other conditions that weaken the immune system may be less protected.
| Total | In Past Two Weeks | Daily Average | 14-day Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7,510 | 4,743 | 319 | +82% |
People with H.I.V. need to be aware that they may not have a single dose.
She said that even two weeks after the shot, people with compromised immune systems may need to use all other precautions to prevent being exposed.
Some men should be prioritized for vaccine. It might be difficult given the supply constraints.
The shots for seven million Jynneos won't arrive for months. The Biden administration has shipped over half a million doses to states. It was reported last week that more than one million additional doses would be given to states.
Washington and New York are among the cities that are limiting the second dose. The C.D.C. and the Food and Drug Administration disagree with the strategy of giving Jynneos in two doses.
Monkeypox is what it is. The symptoms of monkeypox are not as bad as they are for smallpox. There was an outbreak in monkeys kept for research. tens of thousands of men who have sex with men have been affected by the virus, which has spread to dozens of countries since it was first discovered in parts of Central and West Africa. Monkeypox was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization.
What does it do? The monkeypox virus can be spread by coughing or sneezing, or by touching items that have previously touched the rash, or by touching items that have not touched the rash. During and after birth, monkeypox can be transmitted from the mother to the fetus.
I'm afraid I might have a disease. I don't know what to do. You can't test for monkeypox if you only have flu symptoms. You can get a monkeypox test from an urgent care center or your primary care doctor. If you have to come in contact with other people for medical care, you should be isolated at home.
I live in the city. Is it possible to get the vaccine? Adult men who have sex with men and have had multiple sexual partners in the last 14 days are eligible for a vaccine in New York City. People with conditions that weaken the immune system or have a history of allergies are encouraged to get the vaccine. There is a website that people can use to book an appointment.
Robert Califf, the commissioner of the F.D.A., said the agency was considering authorizing shots that contain just one-fifth of the regular dose, delivered between layers of the skin.
Jynneos would need to be granted an emergency use authorization by the F.D.A.
When there is a shortage of other vaccines, the dose-sparing approach has been used. For more traditional immunizations, more skill is required.
The dose-sparing strategy may work if one shot is enough to prevent severe symptoms. It is not known if a scaled-back regimen is enough to prevent infections and how long that immunity will last.
Emily Erbelding is an infectious diseases expert who oversaw testing of Covid vaccines in special populations.
The vaccine is 85% effective against monkeypox according to one of the statistics. The data comes from a small 1988 study that looked at the incidence of monkeypox in people who had been inoculated for the disease.
There was no large trial of Jynneos before it was approved. The F.D.A. used measures of antibody responses in small groups of people after immunization with Jynneos compared with ACAM2000.
Two doses of Jynneos yielded the same results as a single shot of ACAM2000, according to studies led by its manufacturer.
After the first shot of Jynneos, the levels of Antibody went up for two weeks and then went down for four weeks, but then went back up for four weeks.
The protection may not be long- lasting if the first dose is not followed by a second one.
If protection for more than four weeks is desired, a second dose should be given.
She said that it was possible to delay the second dose to eight weeks. She said that if it was going to be six months, it would be more important to prioritize those with more severe illnesses.
The F.D.A. suggested on Thursday that one-fifth of a regular dose of Jynneos could be injected between skin layers. There are more immune cells on the skin.
There is very little research going on. The dose-sparing strategy was to be tested by scientists at the N.I.H. It's not clear whether those plans will be put on hold or accelerated.
Information about how Jynneos performs in people with H.I.V. is very limited. At 28 days after the first shot, 67 percent of people with H.I.V. produced antibodies, compared with 84 percent of people without the disease.
The data from the trial was not conclusive, but it is not uncommon for people with compromised immune systems to have reduced responses to other vaccines. Researchers discovered that patients with H.I.V. were more likely to have breakthrough infections.
The Covid vaccine study found that people with moderate or severe immune suppression should be given more vaccine. The response to the vaccine decreases as immune suppression increases.
Jynneos is safe for people with H.I.V. but the agencies have not addressed its effectiveness in that population.
The vaccine may not protect you if you are positive for H.I.V. or have other conditions that weaken your immune system.
The package insert states that people with compromised immune systems may have a reduced immune response.
Two shots may be very important in this population, which is something that is not happening in the public health response.
State and local health departments may not have much of a choice other than to stick with scaled-back regimen.
Patrick Gallahue, a spokesman for New York City's health department, said that in an environment of scarcity, they have to do everything they can to get the vaccine to the city.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
