2023-08-22 14:31:13
Title: Berlin Charité’s Ongoing Study Highlights Importance of Smallpox Vaccine Effectiveness
Subtitle: Study still in need of participants to establish reliable conclusions
Date: [Insert Date]
The smallpox virus, known as “Mpox” or “monkey pox,” has seen a decline in cases, bringing both blessings and curses. While it is a relief that the virus has subsided, public interest in the disease has also waned, impacting a crucial study being conducted at the Berlin Charité.
According to Florian Kurth, a researcher at the Charité, the ongoing investigation has shown promising results in terms of the vaccination’s overall tolerability. However, due to the limited number of cases, reliable statements about its protective effect cannot be made at this time. Despite this, the study is still actively seeking new participants to contribute to the research and provide valuable insights to help clarify questions surrounding the vaccine’s efficacy.
In an effort to combat the Mpox virus, a live vaccine containing weakened pathogens from a different disease is administered. The vaccine, known as the “Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara” (MVA vaccine), does not contain Mpox but instead utilizes live cowpox viruses. These cowpox viruses have lost some of their original genes, preventing them from reproducing in humans and making them an ideal candidate for the vaccine. The MVA vaccine offers “cross-protection” against both the common pox virus, eradicated since 1980, and the Mpox pathogen, providing protection against various related viruses simultaneously. The vaccine is produced in chicken eggs and requires frozen storage.
This study at the Berlin Charité marks the first prospective examination of the vaccine’s effectiveness, considering individual risk factors. While previous data from registers in Israel and the USA offered some insights, many crucial questions remained unanswered. Depending on the study, the available data suggested that the vaccine is between 66 and 86 percent effective. However, specific details such as its ability to prevent infections or alleviate the disease, including the reduction of lesions, still require further clarification. The study also highlighted inconsistencies in the administration of the vaccine, whether it was applied to the skin or administered subcutaneously.
In order to achieve statistically meaningful results, the study urgently requires additional participants, particularly individuals at risk who have not yet been vaccinated against Mpox. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals are sought, who are willing to be observed over a longer period. The inclusion of the unvaccinated comparison group is vital to accurately assess the vaccine’s effectiveness. Specifically, the study is targeting men and trans people who have engaged in sexual activities with different partners (MSM), as they were identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being particularly susceptible to the Mpox disease.
The results of this ongoing study at the Berlin Charité will play a crucial role in finally elucidating various open questions regarding the smallpox vaccine’s effectiveness. Gathering an ample number of participants, especially individuals at risk, will enable researchers to draw meaningful conclusions and ultimately contribute to the global fight against Mpox and related viruses.
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