The World Health Organization launches a series of recommendations on the vaccination process and the measures to be adopted by affected countries
Monkeypox, declared a “worrying” public health emergency just a few days ago, as was the case at the time with Covid-19, worries the World Health Organization (WHO), which continues to issue recommendations on how countries should act to combat this problem, which already affects more than 17,000 people in 74 countries.
One of the latest advice issued by the WHO refers to vaccination against what is also called monkeypox. The Organization does not see a mass vaccination as necessary, but the post-exposure vaccine is necessary, that is to say close contacts. Anyone who has been exposed to someone with monkeypox should get vaccinated first,” said WHO specialist Rosamund Lewis.
Regarding its compatibility with the Covid vaccine, the expert specifies that, although no study has been carried out on the compatibility of the two prophylaxis, administering different vaccines at the same time amounts to strengthening different parts of the immune system.
But is the monkeypox vaccine enough?
For the WHO, no. The director of the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO), Hans Kluge, assures that the vaccine alone is not enough to stop the epidemic and warns that those at risk must also take action.
The current recommendation for people with monkeypox is to self-isolate and not travel until they recover, while contact cases should monitor their temperature and watch for other possible symptoms for 9-21 days.
In addition, Hans Kluge stresses that countries and manufacturers should work with the WHO to ensure that necessary diagnostics, vaccines, treatments and other supplies are available based on public health needs.
In this sense, the WHO advises to eliminate all barriers that prevent screening, medical care or vaccination; provide clear information on how to access health care, granting patients certified medical leave for the duration of the infectious period so they can self-isolate if necessary; eliminate stigma; and improve information; Limit partners and sexual interactions.
At the same time, it recommends that countries take steps to reduce the risk of contagion; Significantly and rapidly increase national capacity for monkeypox surveillance, investigation, diagnosis and contact tracing to help identify and trace all possible cases; work with at-risk groups and communities and their leaders to develop and disseminate critical messages to reduce transmission and encourage use of health services; and engage in cross-regional collaboration, based on political will, to generate evidence to support the use of monkeypox vaccines and antivirals, as well as to target them to the populations most at risk. risk of infection.