DOH getting 2,000 Jynneos vaccines vs mpox

Two thousand doses of the Jynneos vaccine will be availed of by the Department of Health (DOH) to prevent the spread of mpox in the Philippines.

- RHODINA VILLANUEVA

The Jynneos vaccine is slightly different from the smallpox vaccine, the DOH noted.

"The smallpox vaccine is (made) from vaccinia (virus).

This one for mpox (Jynneos) is modified vaccinia Ankara.

Vaccinia and MVA belong to the same Orthopoxvirus family where mpox also is," Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said.

The DOH has signified to the World Health Organization its intent to get access to smallpox vaccines.

"As to the current vaccine, Africa needs it badly compared to us. Since there are not that many available vaccines right now, it will be used there to contain the (mpox) outbreak," Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said earlier.