Dr. Scott,

I serve as an Occupational Medicine consultant for several research facilities who are currently working with orthopox viruses (including Monkeypox).  For such non-highly attenuated vaccinia strains, we have been giving workers ACAMBIS 2000 vaccination (via CDC).  My Staff and I are up-to-date with our Vaccinia vaccination and have administered over 3000 smallpox vaccinations over three decades at Occupational Health Consultants (OHC).   Compared to a every 10-year boosting cycle for researchers working with non-highly attenuated vaccinia strains , a booster is recommended by CDC every 3 years for anyone working with the more virulent orthopox viruses (e.g. Monkeypox virus) .

I spoke with our CDC Vaccinia Vaccine contact earlier this month and CDC plans to use Jynneos (replication-deficient modified vaccinia Ankara) vaccine for “ring vaccination” strategy for high-risk close contacts of monkeypox cases in the USA.   Jynneos is currently being used for “ring vaccination” in the UK.  At that time, CDC had only 1000 doses of Jynneos available.

In addition to the ACAM2000 and Jynneos vaccines, TPOXX (Tecovirimat) and Tembexa (brincidofovir, a lipid conjugate of cidofovir), alone or in combination have been shown to be effective antiviral therapies for cases of severe monkeypox in immunocompromised victims.  The US government has stockpiled 1.7 million courses of Tecovirmat in the Strategic National Stockpile.  Imvanex in Europe and Imvamune in Canada (makers of Jynneos) are starting to gear up vaccine production in response to the monkeypox outbreak. 

Depending on the number of Monkeypox cases in the USA, there may not be enough Jynneos to give to researchers working with Monkey Pox virus until the end of the year.  Consequently, we are continuing to offer ACAM2000 to anyone who is planning to work with the Monkeypox virus.    Prior to releasing any Jynneos vaccine, CDC is requesting that organizations  provide them with a list of their healthcare workers who will be assigned to treatment teams for a Monkey Pox victims, as well as, their researchers who plan to work with Monkeypox virus.

I hope this is helpful.

Michael

Michael A. Sauri, MD, MPH&TM, FACP,

FACPM, FACOEM, FRSTM&H, CTropMed

Medical Director

Occupational Health Consultants

2301 Research Blvd, Suite 125

Rockville, MD 20850

Tel 301-738-6420

Fax 301-990-3534

msauri@ohcmd.com

Looking for input of protocols for dealing with health care works exposer to Monkeypox.

Our institution are interested in preparing for possible evaluation and care of patients with rule out Monkeypox.

Additionally I am interested in knowing if anyone in our group has look at this from an employee exposure process.

Cheers.

Bill

William Scott, MD, MPH, FACOEM

Clinical Associate Professor, Carle Illinois College of Medicine,

Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign

Head, Occupational & Envionmental Medicine & Employee Health

Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Physician Group.