A circular from the Ministry of Health on the methods and criteria for vaccination against monkeypox is expected by tomorrow and "the first doses have already been sent to the regions where the highest number of cases are recorded".
This was announced by Undersecretary for Health Pierpaolo Sileri, guest of “Timeline”.
“In total, we will reach 16,000 doses available, then others will arrive through the European procurement mechanism - he added -. In any case, it will not be a mass vaccination like that against Covid ".
In Sardinia so far there are two confirmed cases: the last in Sassari , the first was a patient of the Santissima Trinità hospital in Cagliari .
THE DRUG - “Imvanex” is the trade name of the smallpox vaccine used in Europe. Previously indicated for smallpox only, Ema recently cleared it for monkeypox as well. It is indicated in people aged 18 years and over, at high risk of infection and is available in 0.5 ml single-dose ampoules. For those who have not previously been vaccinated, two doses (0.5 ml) are given at least four weeks (28 days) apart. One dose (0.5 ml) to anyone who has received at least one dose of smallpox vaccine or MVA-BN in the past or who has completed a two-dose course of MVA-BN for more than two years.
The vaccine must be thawed before use and kept at a temperature between +2 and +8 degrees away from light for up to 12 hours. In general, the most common adverse reactions are common injection site and systemic reactions typical of vaccines, which resolve within a few days.
(Unioneonline / ss)