Even now that the recent public health emergency in the United States has passed, men who have sex with men and those who are at high risk of contracting mpox should receive two doses of the Jynneos vaccine, advises an independent panel of experts that advises the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine decisions.
The Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practises, or ACIP, of the CDC unanimously decided on Wednesday to continue recommending vaccination against mpox as a standard component of sexual health care for those adults (18 years of age and older) who are at high risk of contracting the illness. During the outbreak, the CDC had already advised high-risk persons to be vaccinated.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the CDC, will now have to approve the suggestions.
According to CDC data, almost 31,000 Americans were diagnosed with mpox during the 2022–2023 outbreak, and 55 of them lost their lives. Gay men made up the majority of individuals who were infected.
June 2023 ACIP Meeting – Mpox Vaccine
The CDC states that those who are gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, as well as transgender and non-binary people, are at high risk of contracting mpox if they have experienced any of the following in the last six months: a new diagnosis of at least one STD; multiple sexual partners; sex at a commercial sex venue or in conjunction with a major public event in an area where mpox is spreading; sexual partners of those who have those risks; and those who intend to partake in any of the aforementioned activities.
The CDC reports that more than 2 million Americans are qualified to receive the mpox immunisation in accordance with the current guidelines. About 23% of this group has taken Jynneos in the prescribed two doses thus far.
The vaccine’s maker, Bavarian Nordic, says it is getting ready for Jynneos to go on sale in the US in the first half of 2024.
Also Read: What Can I Do After My COVID-19 Vaccination?
