Mpox Vax Flops in Chicago

When the global mpox outbreak began in May 2022, various health agencies quickly authorized a vaccine to be administered based on historical clinical data.

However, those vaccine effectiveness decisions may have been premature compared to new real-world data.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed a cluster of mpox cases in greater Chicago, Illinois.

And more than 50% of the new mpox cases in Chicago were in previously vaccinated people. 

Unfortunately, this indicates the virus is still spreading in the U.S., even among over 1.2. million vaccinated people.

The CDC stated on May 10, 2023, 'We don't know why people in this cluster of cases (Chicago) have gotten mpox after vaccination.'

And 'we don't know if immunity after vaccination has decreased in these cases or how long the vaccine protects against mpox infection.'

'We don't know if the virus has changed,' wrote the CDC.

Mpox virus variants are referred to as clades: Clade I and II. Clade II is further divided into subclades: Clade IIa and Clade IIb wrote the U.S. NIH.

During the global outbreak, Clade IIb cases have been identified outside of Africa.

Similar to influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses, this version of mpox may have evolved.

Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases removed a significant roadblock in understanding mpox's Clades in February 2023.

They developed a mouse model of the disease. They used it to demonstrate differences in virulence among the genetic clades of the mpox virus..... despite similar multiplication in cell culture, this model suggests that clade IIb is evolving and/or adapting to other species.... such as humans.

These assumptions may indicate why mpox breakthrough cases were detected in South Korea and France in 2023.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially issued approved Bavarian Nordic's Jynneos® (MVA-BN, IMVANEX®, IMVAMUNE®) to prevent smallpox and mpox disease in adults determined to be at high risk for infection in 2019.

The U.S. began offering Jynneos vaccines to healthcare staff in Boston on May 24, 2022.

Data posted by the CDC on December 8, 2022, indicated the effectiveness of one Jynneos dose was 37%, two doses were 69%, but the duration of immunity was unknown. 

The CDC's recent findings are juxtaposed with current U.S. government advice.

"Without renewed vaccination and prevention efforts, we are at risk for a resurgence of mpox," said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the deputy coordinator of the White House national mpox response," according to NBC News reporting.

"Vaccine is a really important tool, even if it's not perfect."

Another mixed message recently came from the World Health Organization (WHO) when it terminated the mpox emergency this week.

'Having considered the significant decline in the global spread of mpox and the gains achieved in the control of the outbreak in many countries, the Committee advised that the event requires a transition to a robust, proactive, and sustainable mpox response and control program, that prevents resurgence of global spread, aims to eliminate person-to-person transmission, and mitigates the impact of local spill-over effects.'

"I'm pleased to declare mpox is no longer a global health emergency," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on May 11, 2023.

As of May 12, 2023, the FDA continues authorizing Jynneos vaccination for mpox prevention and supports the use of TPOXX® (Tecovirimat) once a person is infected.

Other sexually transmitted disease vaccine news and mpox research are posted by Precision Vaccinations.