Monkeypox vaccines to be reserved for exposed, high-risk persons

Persons who have been exposed to monkeypox or others deemed at high risk will receive the vaccines which have been sourced to support the Health Ministry’s monitoring of this new epidemic.
This was according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Thursday.
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued an emergency use authorisation for the Jynneos vaccine for individuals 18 years of age and older who are determined to be at high risk for monkeypox infection.
Guyana has initiated efforts to source the MVA [Modified vaccinia Ankara] vaccine for monkeypox (commonly referred to as Jynneos in the US). However, given that there is only one manufacturer in the United Kingdom, this order is being facilitated through the Pan American Health Organisation. It is expected that the shots will arrive in September.
“They have taken orders from other countries in Latin America and pool the orders together. We’re going to the manufacturer with a common order for the Americas. By doing so, we have a large amount of vaccines and that order has been placed. We’re expecting those vaccines to come in by the end of September,” said the Health Minister.
Once they arrive, the Health Ministry will be using the shots for high-risk or exposed persons within the population.
He explained, “In this context of the vaccines being very limited, one of the things that is being recommended in countries that have started to use the vaccine is to determine the person’s risks. You can group people by their level of risks. What they have recommended is not to give it as a pre-exposure prophylaxis type of vaccine, but rather you do it as a post-exposure vaccine.”
It was advised that like with any other vaccine, there are temporary side effects which some people may experience.
“It’s more protective. The safety profile is extremely good. It is something that has been recommended, has been used and has worked to prevent the disease from spreading,” the Minister advised.
Guyana has only detected one case of monkeypox, which was confirmed on Monday. Since then, those in contact with patient zero have been quarantined.
“All the contacts that he has given us, we have been working with those contacts. They have been quarantined and all the suitable measures have been taken,” the Minister assured.
From March to present, more than 42,000 monkeypox cases have surfaced globally. Across the region, cases have been detected in countries like Cuba, Barbados, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, but Brazil has been plagued with more than 3000 infections.
Doctors and other medical staffers were briefed on the protocols to be followed should persons present themselves at any health facility with symptoms associated with monkeypox. Meanwhile, persons were sent for training to support testing capacity at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory.
Monkeypox would appear as a rash. Once infected, a person can spend from seven to 21 days in incubation before the symptoms manifest.
The acute skin rash may be present with maculopapular (flat based lesions); vesicles (fluid-filled blisters), pustules, and subsequent crusting affecting the face, palms, soles and the rest of the body.
It may be accompanied by headache, acute onset fever, myalgia, back pain, asthenia, and lymphadenopathy. (G12)