From next week it will be possible to get a vaccination against the monkeypox virus after high-risk contact. In our country, the counter now stands at 168 infections. Most people have mild symptoms.
Belgium received 3,040 vaccines against the monkeypox virus on Thursday. This was done through the new health authority HERA of the European Commission, which has signed a deal with the Danish biotech company Bavarian Nordic for the purchase of 110,000 doses.
The vaccines can be administered from next week, but given the current epidemiological situation and the limited availability of the drug, only a limited group of people will be eligible. After high-risk contact with an infected person, such as an infected family member, healthcare professionals can contact their general practitioner. He or she will discuss with the reference center whether a vaccination is necessary. People with lowered immunity and high-risk contact or people who had contact with a very high risk (such as prolonged skin-to-skin contact) can also receive a vaccination.
Mild Symptoms
The vaccination should preferably be administered in the upper arm within four days of exposure, but for people who have already received a shot against classic smallpox, a new dose is not necessary. Infected persons are called upon to isolate themselves, just like with a covid infection.
In Europe, 6,000 cases of monkey pox have already been registered and in our country the counter stands at 168. It is striking that it concerns only men. The rare disease, which mainly occurs in West and Central Africa, usually causes mild symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Afterwards, a skin rash can develop that evolves from a pimple to a blister. Most people recover within two to four weeks.