inp.polri.go.id - Kinshasa. Based on new research, the immunity from the Mpox vaccine tends to decrease within six to 12 months, after immunization. For this reason, researchers conclude that a booster vaccine may be needed.

This is based on a Harvard Medical School study. The researchers used 45 people who were vaccinated or infected with Mpox in 2022 as samples.

Researchers found that antibodies decreased significantly after one year, even in people who received two doses of the vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are more effective than one dose, but after a year, the immune response is almost the same as one dose.

Experts recommend booster injections to maintain the effectiveness of the vaccine. This study analyzed the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccine, an Mpox vaccine approved by the European Union and the UK.

Immunology expert Jake Dunning said that decreasing antibodies does not mean that protection against Mpox has decreased directly. This is because the vaccine may have stimulated the immune system's memory, so it can still fight infection.

Reported from the Euro Health page, further research is needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of the vaccine. Especially in vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, and HIV sufferers, Friday (10/4/2024).

The number of Mpox vaccinations given reached almost 337 thousand in Europe, between September 2022 and February 2023. Mpox cases have also decreased drastically since the peak of the outbreak, and infections after vaccination are rare.

However, new concerns have arisen with the presence of a more virulent Mpox strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). More than 26,500 cases and 720 deaths have been reported in Africa this year.

One antiviral drug for Mpox is available in Europe, but access to vaccines and treatments in Africa is still limited. Antiviral trials tested for the strain in the DRC failed to show improvement in the patient's main symptoms.

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