Monkey pox: HAS recommends vaccination of people at risk

Lape pox, or “monkeypox”, is spreading in France, with a confirmed peak of 577 cases on July 5, including 387 in Île-de-France. Seized by the General Directorate of Health, the High Authority for Health decided to update its vaccination strategy in the face of the progression of the virus. In its latest report published on Friday July 8, the HAS now recommends preventive vaccination of all people at risk of exposure. In order of priority, the groups concerned are men who have sex with men, trans people who have multiple sexual partners, people in situations of prostitution, and all professionals working in places of sexual consumption.

Vaccination is not envisaged, at this stage, for health personnel caring for this type of patient, but could become so on a case-by-case basis. The HAS reminds professionals in the sector to strictly respect the usual hygiene measures, such as wearing personal protective equipment, which would make the risk of contamination very low.

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A favorable benefit-risk

To make this decision, the HAS consulted the efficacy data of the available vaccines. It also took into account the opinion of the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) on the favorable benefit-risk of vaccines of 3^e generation in pre-exposure.

If the cases of contamination remain not very serious, the disease is evolving rapidly in recent weeks. According to data from Public Health France, 97% of patients are men who have had sex with men, and 75% of cases are men who report having had several partners in the weeks preceding the onset of symptoms.

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