CDC Advisors Recommend Routine Mpox Vaccination for High-Risk Adults, Awaiting Director's Approval

Over 2 million adults in the United States are eligible for the routine mpox vaccination, and Bavarian Nordic, the manufacturer of Jynneos, is set for a commercial launch in the country in early 2024, pending final approval from CDC Director, Dr. Mandy Cohen.

• CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices unanimously voted to recommend routine use of Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos vaccine for high-risk individuals as part of their sexual health care. The recommendation, which includes gay, bisexual men and transgender or non-binary people who are at higher risk for mpox infections, is waiting for the final approval of CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen.
• The 2022-2023 mpox outbreak resulted in over 31,000 mpox cases in the United States, with 55 fatalities. The majority of those infected were gay men, and now more than 2 million people are eligible for vaccination under the new recommendation.
• The commercial launch of Jynneos in the US is being planned for the first half of 2024 by Bavarian Nordic with approximately 23% of the eligible group already having received the recommended two doses.
• The mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, primarily circulates in Africa and had a global outbreak in summer 2022 mainly among men who have sex with men. The virus spreads through close contact with infected people or animals, contaminated items, and can potentially cause fatal skin lesions.
• Despite the decline in outbreaks, the CDC panel's recommendation serves as a reminder that the virus is still circulating and can infect people during international travel. A reevaluation of the virus's spread and the vaccine's cost-benefit analysis is expected in 2-3 years.

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