The ACAM200 smallpox vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus; rather, it contains a live vaccinia virus, a pox-type virus that is related to smallpox but causes milder disease, per the FDA. People who receive the ACAM200 vaccine are considered vaccinated within 28 days of the single-dose vaccine, per the CDC.
The Jynneos vaccine contains a live virus and requires two doses given four weeks apart. People who receive the Jynneos vaccine are considered vaccinated two weeks after their last dose, per the CDC.
If you received the smallpox vaccine prior to the current outbreak, the level of protection that vaccine will afford you now against monkeypox is unclear, Dr. Gordon says, adding that experts will likely know more about who may have partial protection as the current monkeypox outbreak unfolds. Anthony Fauci, MD, the country’s leading infectious disease expert, previously told The New York Times: “We can’t guarantee that a person who was vaccinated against smallpox is still going to be protected against monkeypox.”
Who should be getting the smallpox vaccine right now?
Currently, you can’t make an appointment with a physician and get the Jynneos or ACAM200 vaccine, as each is only being administered to certain individuals who have been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of monkeypox, Dr. Gordon says.
Getting the vaccine after exposure may seem counterintuitive, though it is advised if it can be administered within a certain amount of time after exposure, per the WHO. This process is known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and the WHO recommends it for anyone exposed to monkeypox 4 to 14 days after first exposure.
Health care personnel can receive either the Jynneos vaccine or the ACAM200 vaccine should they be exposed to monkeypox cases at work. However, most clinicians in the U.S. don’t fall into this category, as most aren’t testing and diagnosing orthopoxviruses.
READ RELATED: Backyard chicken farms are linked to salmonella outbreak that has infected 200 people
Since the monkeypox vaccine isn’t currently recommended to anyone unless they’ve been in close contact with someone with monkeypox, the focus right now should be on preventative measures, Dr. Gordon says. This means tracking case counts, making sure the U.S. is able to test people for monkeypox, and teaching people how to stop the spread if it becomes more prevalent.
How to protect yourself from monkeypox
Remember: Monkeypox is still considered to be rare. But if you’re concerned about your risk while traveling internationally, there are certain precautions you can take to try to protect yourself. Monkeypox is spread through direct contact with an infected person’s sores, body fluids, or scabs. It can also spread through respiratory secretions (during prolonged face-to-face contact) and intimate activities such as sex, kissing, or cuddling, per the CDC. In a statement on the level 2 alert, the CDC said travelers should:
- Avoid contact with sick people, including those with skin or genital lesions.
- Avoid contact with live or dead wild animals, such as monkeys, apes, rats, and squirrels.
- Avoid contact with, including consumption of, wild game.
- Avoid contact with materials recently used by sick people, including clothing and bedding.
- Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water (ideally for at least 20 seconds) or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
People are also advised to seek medical care immediately if a new rash emerges, including skin lesions anywhere on the body, and to avoid contact with others until the rash is evaluated.
You should contact a health care professional if you suspect you’ve been exposed and have possible monkeypox symptoms, though it’s important to let the provider know ahead of time—via phone or email—that you suspect you may have monkeypox, so they can take the appropriate precautions to protect themselves and other people in the facility. While the CDC emphasizes the risk to the general public is currently low, Dr. Gordon says experts are making preparations in case it becomes more prevalent in the coming days.
Related:
Source: SELF
