EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides called the decision a“extremely important”. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) authorized, on Friday August 19, a new technique for injecting the monkeypox vaccine, which will make it possible to immunize more people.
European countries can now administer, “ as a temporary measure”the Imvanex vaccine just under the upper layer of the skin – intradermally – and no longer deep down – subcutaneously – as is currently the case.
The advantage of this technique lies in the economy of administered product that it allows to achieve. The WEA Emergency Task Force found that “when given intradermally, a smaller dose of the vaccine may be sufficient”. In this case, a fifth of the dose is enough, which allows ” protect those at risk during the current monkeypox outbreak, as long as vaccine supplies remain limited”.
Same level of antibodies
The working group studied data from a clinical trial involving approximately 500 adults and comparing the two types of injection. “People receiving the vaccine intradermally received one-fifth (0.1ml) of the dose subcutaneously (0.5ml) but produced similar antibody levels as people who received the subcutaneous dose. higher dermal », explained the WEA. On the other hand, the risk of skin irritation is higher.
The European Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, welcomed this authorization, which ” makes it possible to vaccinate five times more people with the stocks of vaccines we have” currently. “This guarantees better access to vaccination for people at risk and healthcare professionals”she added in a press release.
Designed by the Danish group Bavarian Nordic, the Imvanex vaccine was initially approved to fight against smallpox, declared eradicated worldwide since 1980. Studies later showed that this vaccine was also very effective against monkeypox, less virulent.
Due to the similarity of the two viruses, the European health authorities approved the extension of its use on July 22, specifying that the injection must be subcutaneous, therefore deeper. This decision triggered a rush towards this now only authorized vaccine against this disease.