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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director)
Medical validation:
September 5, 2024
Vaccinate more to better protect? This is the objective of the High Authority of Health, which has decided to update its vaccination recommendations.
As the monkeypox (Mpox) epidemic has intensified on the African continent, and clade II, one of its strains, continues to circulate in France, the High Authority for Health has decided to update its vaccination strategy.
Vaccination against Mpox: two “high risk” profiles are concerned
Two years after the global epidemic of monkeypox – an infectious disease caused by an orthopoxvirus, which is transmitted through sexual contact – the Ministry of Health has decided to refer the matter to the High Authority for Health.
Indeed, faced with the circulation of several strains of the virus including clade Ib (a new variant of clade I, suspected of being more dangerous and more contagious) and clade II (responsible for the global epidemic of 2022 and circulating quietly in France since), the government deemed it necessary to update past vaccination recommendations.
“In response, the HAS is today publishing an opinion in which it recommends the two complementary strategies used in 2022: one preventive for unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated people presenting a high risk of exposure to the virus; and the other reactive for people in contact with identified cases”, details the organization in a press release.
Concretely, the health authority recommends that people at high risk of exposure to the virus be eligible for vaccination with the MVA-BN vaccine (Imvanex or Jynneos), namely:
- Men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans people reporting multiple sexual partners;
- People in prostitution;
- Professionals of sexual encounter places, whatever the status of these places;
- Partners or people sharing the same living space as the people mentioned above.
The HAS also recommends that people who have had a risky contact, as well as immunocompromised people who have had close contact with a risky contact person, should also be eligible for vaccination.
“As a reminder, this reactive vaccination should ideally be administered within 4 days following the first risky contact to have optimal effectiveness, and at the latest within 14 days“, the organization specifies.
With this new strategy, the HAS has three distinct objectives: preventing the emergence of clade Ib in France; eliminating the circulation of clade II and strengthening immunity before possible epidemic outbreaks.
Should we be worried about this new virus? No, says Dr. Kierzek
For Dr. Gérald Kierzek, there is no need to panic about the new vaccination recommendations.
“Mpox is not the new Covid and its transmission requires direct and prolonged contact with someone infected. There is therefore no need to vaccinate everyone but high-risk populations (homosexuals in particular) and to revaccinate (because of doubts about the duration of protection)“, assures the medical director of Doctissimo. This personalized strategy is consistent with the recommendations of the ECDC which qualifies the risk of propagation in Europe and therefore of an epidemic as very low: “In the EU/EEA, the risk of MPOX clade II infection remains low for the general population and moderate among higher risk groups such as people with multiple sexual partners and some men who have sex with men.. “, he specifies, in conclusion.
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