As the United States launches a vaccination campaign against monkeypox, there is growing concern among some experts that demand could soon exceed the available supply.
Jynneos, the only vaccine developed for monkeypox, is manufactured by a small Danish company, Bavarian Nordic. The company is expected to send about 2 million doses to the United States by the end of the year, but can produce less than 5 million doses in other parts of the world.
Manufacturing facilities that can make more shut Expansion plan from August last year. The facility is not scheduled to reopen at the earliest until the end of this summer, and additional vaccines produced there may be unavailable for at least six months thereafter.
Angela Rasmussen, a research scientist at the Vaccine Infectious Diseases Mechanism at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, said the extent of monkeypox outbreaks, and therefore the need for vaccines, is uncertain because the tests are mottled.
But the current supply is “certainly not enough to vaccinate everyone at risk,” she said.
Approximately 60 countries are working on cases of monkeypox, and all countries except the United States need to share available doses (sufficient for less than 2.5 million people) until early 2023.
CEO Paul Chaplin has already stated that Bayern Nordic is “very low in stock of finished products.” He said the company was able to fulfill all the orders it had received so far.
However, some countries are already vaccinated against close contact with patients and other people at high risk. This is an approach that has the potential to rapidly increase the number of doses required around the world.
“We still have the opportunity to contain the virus,” said Zain Rizvi, who is studying access to medicines at the advocacy group Public Citizen. “But that means that everyone who needs access to the vaccine now needs it.”
He warned that if the number of cases continues to increase uncontrolled, monkeypox will become permanently established in some countries and may lead to outbreaks in the coming years.
The number of cases worldwide has increased to about 5,500, and at least an additional 5,000 are under investigation. According to the World Health Organization, cases in Europe have tripled in the last two weeks. The United States has identified 400 cases of monkeypox, but the actual number is believed to be much higher, and the number of people at risk is orders of magnitude higher.
Outbreaks are mainly concentrated in men who have sex with men. An estimated 6 million men who have sex with men live only in the United States.
The US stockpile has approximately 56,000 doses and will be distributed immediately. Federal officials expect to receive another 300,000 doses in the coming weeks.
An additional 1.1 million doses have been manufactured for the United States, but the Food and Drug Administration must inspect them and approve them before releasing them. According to Chaplin, this process usually takes more than three months.
The agency is facilitating the review, but the spokeswoman declined to say how long it might take.
In addition, according to Chaplin, the United States had previously purchased “bulk” vaccines that could be “completed” and produce up to 15 million doses. This will take 5 months.
The government Order 2.5 million times From that inventory, the first 500,000 will be delivered by the end of the year.
Bavarian Nordic is in talks with other manufacturers who can produce higher doses, but it also generally takes at least 4-6 months, Chaplin said.
According to experts, this situation could leave the United States with doses of about 2 million doses by the end of the year, but could hinder response in other countries, especially in African countries where the virus has been endemic for decades. There is sex.
The United States helped Bavarian Scandinavia develop Jynneos, a safer alternative to the old smallpox vaccine, primarily to prevent smallpox during bioterrorism attacks. Instead, Jynneos has become an important tool in the competition to contain monkeypox.
There is another way. ACAM2000, a version of the vaccine used to eradicate smallpox decades ago, may also be effective against monkeypox. However, the vaccine has severe side effects, including heart problems, which can be fatal to people with certain conditions.
What you need to know about monkeypox virus
What is monkeypox? Monkeypox is a virus that is endemic in parts of Central and West Africa. Similar to smallpox, but less serious. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was discovered in 1958 after an outbreak occurred in monkeys kept for research.
“We want to emphasize the absurdity of relying on a single manufacturer as the global supplier of vaccines needed to control outbreaks,” Lizbi said. “It’s very stupid that we’re back in this situation.”
Lizbi and others are looking for a government-owned manufacturing facility that can take command in the event of an outbreak for rapid mass production of vaccines. Plans for such a facility are under consideration, according to senior executives with knowledge of the consultation.
According to Elizabeth Finley, the limited supply of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States in the coming weeks means that people in big cities can take shots, while people in small rural counties have ACAM 2000. Is that you need to use. Director of Communication for the National Union of STD Directors.
“We want everyone in need of the vaccine to be vaccinated, regardless of which community they are in,” she said.
The World Health Organization requires 100,000 doses of Jynneos. According to senior officials with negotiating knowledge, the Biden administration is considering the request and is waiting for details on where and how those doses will be used.
“The United States, frankly, has the greatest power in the world today and is shaping the path of fashion,” Lizbi said. “We need global cooperation to ensure that we reach the places where doses are most needed.”
