A recent study led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin Medicine and Fred Hutch Cancer Center showed that the mpox vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection in people with HIV.
The study, published in the journal Clinical Infection, found that vaccination reduced mpox cases by 84% in this population, providing a significant level of protection after just one dose.
The study tracked approximately 20,000 people with HIV who received treatment through the Center for AIDS Research, collecting data from nine clinics across the United States from January 2022 to May 2023.
Researchers observed that while mpox cases did occur, none of the vaccine recipients who received both doses experienced severe outcomes.
This study suggests that antiretroviral therapy also helped prevent severe symptoms in people infected with mpox.
Lead author Michalina Montaño noted that the vaccine’s efficacy in people with HIV is at the high end of estimates for the general population of 65% to 85%.
However, lead author Dr. Rachel Bender Ignacio highlighted concerns about global access to vaccines, especially in regions like Central Africa, where the incidence of both HIV and mpox is high.
The findings highlight the need for targeted vaccination efforts to protect vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV.
mpox is primarily spread through close physical contact and poses a serious risk in areas with high rates of immunosuppression due to HIV and other factors (such as malnutrition).
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