France updates mpox’s vaccination strategy
- France has updated its vaccination recommendations due to an increase in mpox cases in Central Africa linked to clade I and clade Ib variants.
- Higher risk groups, including men who have sex with men and sex workers, are advised to get vaccinated or receive booster doses.
- The aim of the new vaccination strategy is to reduce the risk of propagation of clade I, eliminate clade II, and enhance long-term immunity.
In response to a rise in mpox cases in Central Africa, France has revised its vaccination strategy. The Direction Générale de la Santé (DGS) announced these updates on September 3, following the World Health Organization's declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on August 14 due to the emergence of the clade Ib variant. Most cases of this variant are concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding countries, although the risk of it spreading to France remains low. Despite the low risk, French health authorities are taking proactive measures to prevent any potential introduction of the virus. The French National Authority for Health (HAS) has recommended that individuals at higher risk, including men who have sex with men, transgender individuals with multiple partners, and sex workers, receive vaccinations. Those who were vaccinated during the previous epidemic in 2022 are advised to get a booster dose. The vaccination strategy aims to mitigate the spread of clade I, eliminate clade II circulation, and enhance long-term immunity among the population. The DGS has confirmed that there are sufficient stocks of the Imvanex vaccine, produced by Bavarian Nordic, to support this initiative. The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) has assessed the risk of clade I spreading to Europe as low, with only one case reported in Sweden to date. These measures reflect a commitment to public health and the prevention of potential outbreaks in France.