“Ring Vaccination” for Monkeypox.
Experts Prescribe “Ring Vaccination” for Monkeypox. The experts have declared that ring vaccinations for monkeypox must be recommended for those who are at the greatest risk, of the Covid-19 situation.
The Centre said there has been no initiative taken to start vaccination campaigns for the monkeypox virus, although the virus has caused 4 deaths across the country. An official said that at this stage their main focus is on surveillance and expects that it would be unlikely for mass vaccination drive against the virus having a low fatality and transmissibility rate.
The second and third generation vaccine against smallpox, which have never been produced in India, is effective against the virus. Vaccinologist, Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya said that India has no capacity in producing the second and third generation of vaccination. In case of producing those, there should be international collaboration and transfer in technology.
Experts have called for the revival of smallpox vaccination. Dr. Ishwar Gilada, infectious diseases specialist said, that smallpox vaccination has the capability to prevent and treat the monkeypox virus.
Gilada said that, the mass vaccination programme for smallpox ended in India around 1979. He added that those who received smallpox vaccination will get 85% protection from the monkeypox virus. The rest of the population will get protection against the severity of the virus.
Lahariya said that it has been scientifically proven that different pox viruses provide cross protection against each other. So, smallpox vaccination can protect against monkeypox virus. He added, studies have identified that smallpox vaccination gives 58% effectiveness in case of protection from monkeypox.
Gilada said that currently there are only two companies both in US who have approved the smallpox vaccinations. He added India has to get access to those vaccinations.
Experts have said there should be targeted vaccinations for those who are highly prone to get the virus.
Gilda said that research has found out that the disease is most prominent on men who have sex with men. 98-99% over 17,000 monkeypox cases in the recent outbreak globally are male and 1% is female. MSM community often have multiple sex partners. The experts have thought of ring vaccination that is vaccinating all the person surrounding the main effected person. This would curb the spread of the virus, especially when there is a shortage in the smallpox vaccination has become a global concern.
Dr. Dipu TS, Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Amrita Hospital said that using the ring vaccination method is the best way to containment the spread of the virus. He said as the virus spread in close contact, the strategy can revolve around and mitigate the risk of contracting the disease after exposure.
Experts have confirmed that the ring vaccination strategy has been successful in case of mumps, measles and Ebola, where vaccinating a person at risk was useful in the initial days.
“This is a post-exposure prophylaxis strategy. This strategy would be especially useful in diseases like monkeypox where incubation period would be has high as 20 days. By actively immunizing the at- risk, exposed individuals during the early, post- exposure period, their specific immunity against monkeypox builds up during the incubation period of the virus and could result in abating the active infection and breaking the chain of transmission,” Dr. Dipu said.
Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, a member of the task force against Covid-19 Kerala said, that Vaccina, a relative to both smallpox and monkeypox, is slightly distinct from them. The immune response that gets generated from this virus acts as shield against the monkeypox and smallpox viruses. He added that at the current situation Jynneos is recommended for people, especially healthcare workers who come in contact with the monkeypox affected patients. It is believed that if it is given within four days of exposure, it would have the capacity to prevent the infection. He also said that if the vaccination is done between four to fourteen days, it will reduce the severity of the symptoms.
Experts Prescribe “Ring Vaccination” for Monkeypox, While Centre has No Plan Yet
The experts have declared that ring vaccinations for monkeypox must be recommended for those who are at the greatest risk, under the Covid-19 situation.
The Centre said there has been no initiative taken to start vaccination campaigns for the monkeypox virus, although the virus has caused 4 deaths across the country. An official said that at this stage their main focus is on surveillance and expects that it would be unlikely for mass vaccination drive against the virus having a low fatality and transmissibility rate.
The second and third generation vaccine against smallpox, which have never been produced in India, is effective against the virus. Vaccinologist, Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya said that India has no capacity in producing the second and third generation of vaccination. In case of producing those, there should be international collaboration and transfer in technology.
Experts have called for the revival of smallpox vaccination. Dr. Ishwar Gilada, infectious diseases specialist said, that smallpox vaccination has the capability to prevent and treat the monkeypox virus.
Gilada said that, the mass vaccination programme for smallpox ended in India around 1979. He added that those who received smallpox vaccination will get 85% protection from the monkeypox virus. The rest of the population will get protection against the severity of the virus.
Lahariya said that it has been scientifically proven that different pox viruses provide cross protection against each other. So, smallpox vaccination can protect against monkeypox virus. He added, studies have identified that smallpox vaccination gives 58% effectiveness in case of protection from monkeypox.
Gilada said that currently there are only two companies both in US who have approved the smallpox vaccinations. He added India has to get access to those vaccinations.
Experts have said there should be targeted vaccinations for those who are highly prone to get the virus.
Gilda said that research has found out that the disease is most prominent on men who have sex with men. 98-99% over 17,000 monkeypox cases in the recent outbreak globally are male and 1% is female. MSM community often have multiple sex partners. The experts have thought of ring vaccination that is vaccinating all the person surrounding the main effected person. This would curb the spread of the virus, especially when there is a shortage in the smallpox vaccination has become a global concern.
Dr. Dipu TS, Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Amrita Hospital said that using the ring vaccination method is the best way to containment the spread of the virus. He said as the virus spread in close contact, the strategy can revolve around and mitigate the risk of contracting the disease after exposure.
Experts have confirmed that the ring vaccination strategy has been successful in case of mumps, measles and Ebola, where vaccinating a person at risk was useful in the initial days. Experts Prescribe “Ring Vaccination” for Monkeypox.
“This is a post-exposure prophylaxis strategy. This strategy would be especially useful in diseases like monkeypox where incubation period would be has high as 20 days. By actively immunizing the at- risk, exposed individuals during the early, post- exposure period, their specific immunity against monkeypox builds up during the incubation period of the virus and could result in abating the active infection and breaking the chain of transmission,” Dr. Dipu said.
Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, a member of the task force against Covid-19 Kerala said, that Vaccina, a relative to both smallpox and monkeypox, is slightly distinct from them. The immune response that gets generated from this virus acts as shield against the monkeypox and smallpox viruses. He added that at the current situation Jynneos is recommended for people, especially healthcare workers who come in contact with the monkeypox affected patients. It is believed that if it is given within four days of exposure, it would have the capacity to prevent the infection. He also said that if the vaccination is done between four to fourteen days, it will reduce the severity of the symptoms.
