The Monkeypox and Monkeypox Vaccine Facts
β’ Monkeypox virus is an orthopox DNA virus related to the virus that causes smallpox.
β’ Monkeypox is spread by direct contact with monkeypox skin lesions or scabs, contact with materials used by those with active infection, and by the sneezes and coughs of those actively infected.
β’ Symptoms usually include fever, malaise, sweats, lymphadenopathy, and headache, followed by the eruption of skin lesions 2-4 days later. In past outbreaks lesions usually erupt on palms, soles of feet, and mucous membranes.
β’ In the current outbreak, about 73-90% of lesions are localized to the ano/genital area and 95-99% of transmission is thought to occur through sexual contact.
β’ Of those infected with monkeypox 96-98% are gay/bisexual men, with around 30% having concomitant sexually transmitted infections and 30-40% being HIV positive.
And the Vax Facts:
There are currently two βmonkeypox vaccinesβ available. Both vaccines are attenuated nonreplicating live viral vaccines. Although the live virus in the vaccines generally cannot replication, they may be able to gain replication competence by recombining with other viruses present in the body. The CDCβs website states that they have NO DATA on the effectiveness of either of these two vaccines against the current outbreak of monkeypox.
1. ACAM2000 is a smallpox vaccine that is being used for monkeypox under an Expanded Access Investigational New Drug application. The ACAM2000 vaccine is currently not recommended due to substantially high rates of adverse events, specifically myocarditis.
2. Bavarian Nordicβs JYNNEOS is designed specifically for monkeypox.
Public health agencies are currently recommending the JYNNEOS vaccine. However, this vaccine is not without concerns as 18.4% of participants were found to have elevated troponin (a marker for myocarditis) post-vaccination.
Further, Dr. Nguyen of the WHO warned that efficacy data concerning JYNNEOS was limited, stating:
βWe do not know if JYNNEOS will fully protect against monkeypox virus infection in this outbreak. Individuals wanting to minimize their risk of infection should take additional preventive measures and self-isolate as soon as they develop monkeypox symptoms, such as a rash.
World governments declared Covid-19 injections to be a miraculous medical treatment that is safe and effective for every single person, regardless of age or condition. Thus far, the term βsafe and effectiveβ has never been openly and outwardly attributed to the monkeypox vaccines. However, the JYNNEOS vaccine lists virtually no contraindications other than that an individual emergency authorization approval is required for anyone under the age of 18. The CDC admits to having no data on the safety of this vaccine for pregnant or nursing women but claims it is safe for them to receive because no adverse effects were found in animal studies. The CDC further states they will be collecting data on the efficacy of this vaccine against the current monkeypox strain as people continue receiving it. Again, the people who take these vaccines will be part of the clinical trial.
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