Do You Need Another Mpox Vaccine This Summer?

Public health officials now warn this season could see similar spikes in regions where vaccination coverage is spotty.

But getting more people vaccinated for the first time would move the needle.

A person is considered fully vaccinated if they have two doses.

These estimates account for people who had symptomatic mpox and were diagnosed or treated by a medical professional.

One dose is good and two doses is better, Daskalakis said.

The research shared last month shows that intradermal and subcutaneous injections were both protective.

The choice depends on the administrators level of comfort and experience as well as the patients preference.

No one has ever claimed that the mpox vaccine is 100% efficacious, Adalja said.

There are still many unknowns about those cases.

But for now, there is no indication that more doses will give better protection.

Theres a tendency after COVID to just reflexively say, lets just do another booster.

But thats not really how booster decision policy is made, Adalja said.

Who Is Eligible for Mpox Vaccination?

Increasing vaccine coverage will likely be the most important factor for preventing mpox, Daskalakis said.

Mpox cases were higher and vaccination rates lower among Black and Hispanic men than White men throughout 2022.

Immunity is just one of several tools high-risk people can use to protect themselves, Daskalakis emphasized.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Mpox vaccination basics.