Vaccines and immunization for monkeypox: Interim guidance, 16 November 2022

The document titled "Vaccines and immunization for monkeypox: Interim guidance" provides comprehensive guidelines on the use of vaccines to combat the monkeypox outbreak. Released on 16 November 2022, the guidance emphasizes the global objective of halting the multi-country monkeypox outbreak by curbing human-to-human transmission, safeguarding vulnerable groups from severe monkeypox disease, and minimizing zoonotic transmission. Monkeypox, a disease caused by the monkeypox virus, saw the World Health Organization (WHO) declare a global outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern on 23 July 2022. The document underscores that controlling the outbreak primarily depends on public health measures, with vaccination serving as a supplementary intervention. The guidance offers specific recommendations, such as primary preventive (pre-exposure) vaccination for high-risk groups and post-exposure preventive vaccination for those who have come into contact with infected individuals. It also provides insights into vaccine choice for special populations, emphasizing the use of non-replicating vaccines like MVA-BN for immunocompromised individuals. The document is a result of extensive research and has been endorsed by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization in October 2022.