In the fight against monkey pox, US authorities have approved a new vaccination method designed to give more people the same amount of vaccine. The method will “increase the total number of doses available by up to five times,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. She has also approved the monkeypox vaccination for children under the age of 18, who are believed to be at particular risk of infection.
With the newly approved method, health professionals can now administer the vaccine to people over the age of 18 using a so-called intradermal injection. It is injected into the top layers of the skin and no deeper than the usual subcutaneous injection. The FDA relies on data from a 2015 clinical trial that showed that participants who received an intradermal injection of one-fifth the dose had a similar immune response to those who received a full dose via subcutaneous injection.
Public health emergency in the United States due to monkeypox
So far, about 620,000 doses of the monkeypox vaccine from the German-Danish manufacturer Bavarian Nordic have been distributed in several US states. An additional 440,000 doses have yet to be shipped, enabling up to 2.2 million injections with the new strategy. The US government has also ordered the delivery of an additional five million doses of vaccine starting in September and through the following year. The United States declared a public health emergency last week due to the spread of monkeypox.
Toddler infected in Germany
The number of monkey pox cases is also increasing in Europe, but in several countries the vaccine is no longer sufficient. More than 3,000 cases have already been reported in Germany. The total of 3025 patients are mainly men. Eight women, two adolescent males and a four-year-old girl are also affected.
Vaccine shortage in Belgium and UK
Belgium also reported monkey pox in a woman for the first time, Sciensano’s health authority said on Wednesday. According to the latest data, 546 cases of monkey pox were confirmed there. In the country of more than eleven million inhabitants, people have recently crossed the border to Lille in France to be vaccinated. According to Health Minister François Braun, France has enough vaccine to vaccinate the target group of 250,000 people.
The vaccine against monkeypox is also becoming scarce in Great Britain. Sky News broadcaster reported on Wednesday, citing insider sources, that the country had only a few thousand cans left in stock. In some regions it is no longer possible to make vaccination appointments. The Financial Times quoted a letter from the government stating that new deliveries are not expected before September.
So far 160 infections in Austria
A total of 163,620 vaccine doses for health emergencies are available across the EU through the new EU authority Hera, some of which have already been distributed to Member States. Austria has so far received more than 4,000 doses and reported 160 cases of illness at the end of last week.
Transmission through close body and skin contact
A less dangerous cousin of smallpox, which was eradicated about 40 years ago, is common in West and Central Africa. Typical symptoms include a high fever, swollen lymph nodes, and wet leaf-like pustules. The disease is transmitted through close body and skin contact.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
