Brazil to receive mpox vaccine soon, says health secretary – The Brazilian Report

Aug 26, 2024 13:50 2 min read

Amid the global health emergency declared due to the rapid spread of mpox, the disease formerly known as monkeypox, Brazil is moving to secure new doses of vaccines as soon as possible.

Speaking to news website G1 on Friday morning, Brazils health surveillance secretary Ethel Maciel said the country is hoping to receive vaccines soon, but that this depends on the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

I cant give an exact date for their arrival, as this no longer depends on the Health Ministry, but the most complex phase of obtaining special authorizations to import vaccines has already been completed, she said.

Brazil began its vaccination campaign against mpox in 2023, targeting people living with HIV/Aids, employees of labs exposed to the virus, and those who have come in contact with bodily fluids of patients with suspected infections.

The Health Ministry says that it may revise its immunization parameters once it gets its hands on the latest shipment of doses.

The mpox vaccine is manufactured by biotechnology company Bavarian Nordic, headquartered in Denmark. The immunizer is administered in two doses, with a recommended four weeks in between each jab.

The renewed fears about mpox are in relation to the spread of a new subvariety of the virus in Congo. There are two main types of mpox known to scientists: Clade I and Clade II the former is typically more severe and has a higher mortality rate. The current spread in Congo, however, has been put down to a new subtype: Clade Ib. Brazil has yet to identify any cases of this new subtype.

Ms. Maciel, however, says that Brazil can take nothing for granted. In this globalized world, every country knows it could have a case [of Clade Ib]. Its very important that we identify them quickly so that we can take the necessary isolation measures and stop the spread.

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Brazil to receive mpox vaccine soon, says health secretary - The Brazilian Report