Interim results from a clinical trial in adolescents of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported Bavarian Nordic MPOX vaccine (Zinneos) show that this is a hard-hit group in African countries experiencing clade 1 endemicity. There is, suggesting that the vaccine is safe and stimulates similar antibody responses to that in adults.
In other developments, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday weighed whether clade 1 would impose a significant burden on children in the United States if it were to arrive and spread.
Encouraging findings from US clinical trials
The researchers presented their findings this week at the IDWeek conference in Los Angeles. The results come as some affected countries roll out their first mpox vaccine campaigns and others prepare vaccination plans.
The NIH said in a statement that the results are the result of an ongoing National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) mid-term study in the U.S. to evaluate safety and immunogenicity in children ages 12 to 17. .
The research team looked at antibody levels two weeks after the second of two vaccinations and tracked safety for 180 days after the second dose. Similar to the antibody level findings, the frequency of adverse events was similar between adolescents and adults. Dizziness was more common in adolescents, a pattern seen with other vaccines.
The authors say the study results support the safety of the vaccine and the quality of the immune response and call for evaluating the vaccine in younger children, who are also one of the most affected populations in Africa. He said he pointed it out.
CDC: US children unlikely to be significantly affected by clade 1 mpox
No cases of clade 1 mpox have been detected in the United States, but even if cases were detected, the situation would likely not place a heavy burden on children as in central and eastern Africa, the CDC said yesterday. mentioned in the scientific overview.
Children in endemic countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi are among the hardest-hit groups. However, the virus is unlikely to spread similarly in the United States because of different health conditions and populations.
The CDC said several factors likely contribute to the impact of clade 1 mpox on children in affected areas of Africa. Among them are spread among consanguineous households, young demographics, misdiagnosis of other diseases such as measles, poor sanitation, limited health services, and high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition.
The group added that it does not expect a similar pattern to play out in the United States because of smaller household sizes, easier access to cleaning and disinfecting products, and better access to health care.
