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Monkeypox (MPV) Vaccine

When properly administered before or after a recent exposure, vaccines can be effective tools at protecting people against monkeypox illness. There are a few strategies being used in the United States to distribute and vaccinate at risk populations.

MPV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

The first strategy is Monkeypox Vaccine Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), which is considered as “standard PEP” for monkeypox. Individuals are vaccinated following exposure to monkeypox to help prevent monkeypox illness. This is done through identification of contacts of confirmed or probable monkeypox cases, and then offering vaccine for PEP and monitoring of symptoms or early signs of illness in those contacts.

The CDC recommends exposed contacts receive the vaccine within 4 days from the date of exposure, for the best chance to prevent the onset of the disease. But when given between 4 and 14 days from exposure vaccination may still reduce symptoms of the disease, but may not prevent the disease. And many benefits will still outweigh risks when giving vaccine more than 14 days after exposure in some clinical settings. However, vaccination given after the onset of signs or symptoms of monkeypox is not expected to provide benefit. PEP is important in controlling outbreaks and preventing further transmission of monkeypox, especially when coupled with self-isolation and other prevention measures.

MPV Outbreak Response Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP++)

The second strategy is Outbreak Response Monkeypox Vaccine Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP++). This is an expanded approach for the current outbreak. There are people with certain risk factors who are more likely to have recently been exposed to monkeypox, and PEP++ aims to reach these people for post-exposure prophylaxis even if they have not yet had documented exposure to someone with confirmed monkeypox. This strategy is primarily used in areas with large numbers of monkeypox cases, which suggests a higher level of monkeypox virus transmission. This strategy is also coupled with self-isolation and other prevention measures when symptoms first occur.

MPV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

A third strategy is Monkeypox Vaccine Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which is when vaccine is administered to someone at high risk for monkeypox. An example would be laboratory workers who perform diagnostic testing to diagnose monkeypox. The ACIP recommends preexposure vaccination of people who are at risk for occupational exposure, such as laboratory workers. At this time, most clinicians in the United States and laboratorians not performing the orthopoxvirus generic test to diagnose orthopoxviruses, including monkeypox virus, are not advised to receive monkeypox vaccine PrEP.

There are currently two vaccines being used in the United States to prevent Monkeypox virus infection. The first is JYNNEOS, which has FDA approval for the prevention of Monkeypox virus infection. The second is ACAM2000, which is approved by the FDA for use against smallpox and has been made available for use against monkeypox under an Expanded Access Investigational New Drug application.