Amid recent m-pox outbreaks, questions arise about controlling its spread across borders. Vaccines to protect against m-pox exist? Though none specifically target the monkey-pox virus. Instead, they leverage the genetic similarities within the Orthopoxvirus genus, which includes smallpox and cowpox viruses. This cross-reactivity allows smallpox vaccines to offer protection against m-pox infections.
The primary vaccine in use is MVA-BN (Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic), approved in 2022 during the first global m-pox health emergency. Developed from a weakened strain of the vaccinia virus, MVA-BN is administered in two doses, 28 days apart, and is approved across the EU, UK, US, Switzerland, and Canada. Other vaccines include Japan’s LC16 and Russia’s OrthopoxVac, both approved for m-pox prevention, and ACAM2000, used in the US and Australia for those at risk of Orthopoxvirus exposure.
While previous smallpox vaccinations provide approximately 85% effectiveness against m-pox, they do not guarantee full immunity. Notably, individuals born after the cessation of universal smallpox vaccinations in the 1980s exhibit lower antibody levels against m-pox. Currently, new vaccines like the mRNA-based BNT166 are under development. The World Health Organization recommends vaccination primarily for those at risk or exposed to the virus, rather than mass immunization programs.
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