Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Does The Shingles Vaccine Protect Against Monkeypox

Can Children Take The Antiviral Tpoxx

VERIFY: No, the chickenpox vaccine does not protect against monkeypox

Yes, children can take TPOXX. It is an FDA-approved antiviral approved for the treatment of smallpox disease in children and adults. However, its use for the treatment of other orthopox viruses such as monkeypox , is not FDA-approved. The CDC holds a non-research expanded access Investigational New Drug protocol that allows for the use of TPOXX for the treatment of monkeypox .

Who Should Not Get Shingrix

You should not get Shingrix if you:

  • Have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or after a dose of Shingrix.
  • Currently have shingles.
  • Currently are pregnant. Women who are pregnant should wait to get Shingrix.

If you have a minor illness, such as a cold, you may get Shingrix. But if you have a moderate or severe illness, with or without fever, you should usually wait until you recover before getting the vaccine.

Flu Jabs Protect Against Dementia

It might seem unlikely, but a vaccination against the flu or pneumonia not only protects you against these diseases but also reduces your risk of Alzheimers.

That was the conclusion of a study from the University of Texas Health Science Center in the U.S., based on the health records of more than 9,000 people those who had an annual flu jab were 13 per cent less likely to develop Alzheimers than those who didnt with the pneumonia jab, they were up to 40 per cent less likely to develop the condition.

One theory is that the vaccines prevent inflammation which can spread to your brain.

It might seem unlikely, but a vaccination against the flu or pneumonia not only protects you against these diseases but also reduces your risk of Alzheimers

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Who Should Get Shingrix

Adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. Adults 19 years and older who have or will have weakened immune systems because of disease or therapy should also get two doses of Shingrix. If needed, people with weakened immune systems can get the second dose 1 to 2 months after the first.

You should get Shingrix even if in the past you:

  • Received varicella vaccine

There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix.

If you had shingles in the past, Shingrix can help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time that you need to wait after having shingles before you can receive Shingrix, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has gone away before getting vaccinated.

Chickenpox and shingles are related because they are caused by the same virus . After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in the body. It can reactivate years later and cause shingles.

Shingrix is available in doctors offices and pharmacies.

If you have questions about Shingrix, talk with your healthcare provider.

* A shingles vaccine called zoster vaccine live is no longer available for use in the United States, as of November 18, 2020. If you had Zostavax in the past, you should still get Shingrix. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine the best time to get Shingrix.

Blindness Seizures Coma Other Issues Caused By Chickenpox Virus

If the varicella zoster virus that causes chickenpox reactivates in the retina or the back of the eye, it may cause retinal necrosis, said Dr Nares Smitasin, a senior consultant with National University Hospitals Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases.

Signs include redness of the eye, and when examined, off-white patches in the eyeball can be seen. The discolouration isnt good news as it indicates that the eye inflammation has caused some parts of the vitreous humor to become opaque. If action is not taken, it can lead to retinal detachment or even blindness.

The virus can also reactivate inside the brain itself and bring about brain inflammation or encephalitis, said Dr Smitasin. The patient may suffer from headaches, changes in mental status, seizures or even coma.

We do not know how and where the virus will reactivate exactly, he said. In patients with very weak immune systems, they have a tendency of severe disease such as multiple locations of shingles, retinal necrosis or encephalitis.

As for the monkeypox vaccine, the Ministry of Health is evaluating the pros and cons of offering monkeypox vaccination to workers at high risk such as some healthcare and laboratory workers. However, the ministry is not recommending inoculation for the general population.

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Can Monkeypox Be Treated

There are no treatments specifically for monkeypox . But, since monkeypox and smallpox are from the same virus family, certain drugs and vaccines created for smallpox may be used to treat and prevent monkeypox infections. An antiviral drug called tecovirimat , may be recommended for people who are more likely to get severely sick, like people with weak immune systems.

Immediate Action Required: Phone 999 Immediately If:

You’ve had the vaccine and:

  • you have difficulty breathing
  • you have prolonged fainting, confusion or unconsciousness
  • your face, neck and/or tongue are swelling

These symptoms may be a sign of a serious allergic reaction and typically happen within 15 minutes of vaccination. Simple faints are much more common after vaccination.

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Other Monkeypox Prevention Strategies

Even without a nationwide vaccination effortwhich, again, is unlikely to happenthere are still ways to minimize your risk of contracting monkeypox.

Because the virus is spread through contact with an infected animal or person, or materials that have been contaminated with infected body fluids, the best prevention strategy is to avoid contact with any animals, people, or materials that could be harboring the virus.

And as with many other viruses, practicing proper hygiene is important, too. That means washing hands with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after potential contact, as well as using personal protective equipment.

If you think you may have been exposed to monkeypoxeither through travel or close contact with an infected personyou should talk to your doctor as soon as possible and isolate from others to minimize risk of transmission.

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Interchangeability Of Dosing Regimens

Does the Smallpox Vaccine Protect Against Monkeypox?

When necessary, a person aged 18 years or older who received one JYNNEOS vaccine dose with the standard subcutaneous regimen may receive a second dose with the alternative intradermal regimen at the recommended interval to complete the vaccination series. For example, a person who received only one dose of the standard regimen before the date of initial Emergency Use Authorization for the alternative regimen , may receive one dose with the alternative regimen to complete the series. Also, a person whose 18th birthday occurs between their first and second dose may complete the series with the alternative regimen.

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What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Shingles Immunisation

All medicines and vaccines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time theyre not.

For most people, the chance of having a serious side effect from a vaccine is much lower than the chance of serious harm if you caught the disease.

Talk to your doctor about possible side effects of shingles vaccines, or if you have possible side effects that worry you.

Common side effects of shingles vaccines include:

  • pain, redness, swelling or itching where the needle went in

Serious reactions to immunisation are rare. With Zostavax® vaccination, very rarely a generalised chickenpox-like rash may occur around 24 weeks after vaccination. This may be associated with fever and feeling unwell. This rash may be a sign of a serious reaction to the virus in the vaccine. Seek medical attention and inform of recent Zostavax vaccination if you experience this reaction.

The Consumer Medicine Information links in How do you get immunised against shingles? list the side effects of each vaccine.

Monkeypox Not Related To Shingles Or Covid

CLAIM: The recent cases of monkeypox are actually just shingles, and the cases are a result of the COVID-19 vaccine.

APS ASSESSMENT: False. Shingles and monkeypox are not the same and are caused by different viruses, experts told The Associated Press. While they both cause rashes with blisters, monkeypox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox, and shingles is caused by the herpes virus that causes chickenpox. One website misused a stock photo of a shingles rash in an article about monkeypox, and the story has since been updated to remove the picture. Experts say the vaccine cannot cause monkeypox, as it is spread by exposure to an infected human or an infected animal.

THE FACTS: As health officials monitor recently-identified cases of monkeypox around the world, some social media users are sharing their fears and skepticism about the virus with false claims, including that monkeypox is actually shingles.

Many posts making the false claim include a screenshot showing a side-by-side comparison of two websites. Both have the same photo of a hand with raised lesions.

The headline over the photo on TheHealthSite.com, a health news website based in India, from July 17, 2021, reads: Rare Monkeypox cases reported from US, First Time In Nearly 20 Years: All You Need To Know About It. The headline on the other side, which comes from the state government health department website of Queensland, Australia, reads: What is shingles?

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What You Need To Know

  • The standard regimen for JYNNEOS involves a subcutaneous route of administration with an injection volume of 0.5mL. In the context of the current national Public Health Emergency , an alternative regimen involving intradermal administration with an injection volume of 0.1mL may be used under an Emergency Use Authorization .
  • What To Know About The Monkeypox Virus

    What is monkeypox?Monkeypox is a virus similar to smallpox, but symptoms are less severe. It was discovered in 1958, after outbreaks occurred in monkeys kept for research. The virus was primarily found in parts of Central and West Africa, but recently it has spread to dozens of countries and infected tens of thousands of people, overwhelmingly men who have sex with men.

    What are the symptoms?People who get sick commonly experience a fever, headache, back and muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and exhaustion. A few days after getting a fever, most people also develop a rash that starts with flat red marks that become raised and filled with pus. On average, symptoms appear within six to 13 days of exposure, but can take up to three weeks.

    How does it spread?The monkeypox virus can spread from person to person through close physical contact with infectious lesions or pustules, by touching items like clothing or bedding that previously touched the rash, or via the respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. Monkeypox can also be transmitted from mother to fetus via the placenta or through close contact during and after birth.

    Before Jenner had developed the smallpox vaccine, the number one cause of blindness in the world was smallpox, said Mark Slifka, an immunologist at Oregon Health and Science University. Infected people are contagious until the pustules scab over and slough off, he said.

    But that is not necessary now, she added: This is monkeypox.

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    Shingles And Stroke Risk

    Having a vaccine to prevent shingles may also reduce your risk of having a stroke.

    Shingles is caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus which lies dormant in the nerves after the original infection, and can cause a rash with lasting nerve pain. Its common in people over 50, though you have to be over 70 to be offered a free vaccine on the NHS.

    As well as preventing shingles, the vaccine may reduce your risk of stroke by nearly 20 per cent, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S., based on the medical records of a million people aged 66 or older. Like the vaccines against flu and pneumonia, the benefit may be due to reduced inflammation.

    Who Is Protected Against Monkeypox

    Older people who received smallpox vaccinations may yet have some immunity, researchers say. Healthy children and adults generally do not become severely ill.

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    For a world weary of fighting the coronavirus, the monkeypox outbreak poses a key question: Am I at risk?

    The answer is reassuring. Most children and adults with healthy immune systems are likely to dodge severe illness, experts said in interviews. But there are two high-risk groups.

    One comprises infants younger than six months. But they are not yet affected by the current outbreak. And many older adults, the group most likely to succumb to the monkeypox virus, are at least somewhat protected by decades-old smallpox vaccinations, studies suggest.

    Vaccinated older adults may become infected but are likely to escape with only mild symptoms.

    The bottom line is that even those that were vaccinated many decades before maintain a very, very high level of antibodies and the ability to neutralize the virus, said Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, scientific director of the National Institute on Aging.

    Even if they were vaccinated 50 years ago, that protection should still be there, he said.

    We cant guarantee that a person who was vaccinated against smallpox is still going to be protected against monkeypox, Dr. Fauci said.

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    When Should You Get Immunised Against Shingles

    Anyone aged 60 years and over who wants to protect themselves against shingles can talk to their doctor about getting immunised.

    Shingles immunisation is recommended for:

    • adults aged 60 years and over who have not previously received zoster vaccine
    • adults aged 70 years to 79 years, for free under the National Immunisation Program
    • adults aged 50 or over who live in the same household as someone who has a weakened immune system.

    Smallpox/monkeypox Vaccines Can Prevent Severe Disease Even After Exposure

    Can immunity to chickenpox protect you from monkeypox?

    Schaffner explains that both vaccines may be used after exposure to help prevent severe illness.

    If you give it early enough after exposure it can either abort the infection completely or make it much less serious, he says.

    The first dose needs to be given within the first four days of exposure to help prevent disease onset, but if given between four and 14 days after exposure, it can help reduce symptoms, but it may not prevent disease.

    Although both vaccines are useful in the prevention and control of monkeypox, Adalja says the JYNNEOS vaccine produces fewer side effects and is safer in certain populations than ACAM2000 and will likely be the vaccine of choice between the two.

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    Cdc Warns Lgbtq Community At Higher Risk To Get Monkeypox

    Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that more than 1,000 doses of Jynneos are stockpiled and can be distributed to those who have been in contact with infected people. In total, the government has more than 100 million doses of another smallpox vaccine called ACAM2000, CDC officials said.

    In addition, the FDA has also approved two therapeutics to treat smallpox, called TPOXX and Tembexa.

    “The drugs that have been approved for smallpox have not yet been approved for monkeypox. But theres excellent data in the filings for the licensure of those drugs where theyve been tested against monkeypox in monkeys, and it works very well,” said Grant McFadden, the director of the Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy at Arizona State University.

    The national stockpile includes TPOXX doses, according to the FDA.

    “Containing an outbreak of monkeypox should be far less challenging than Covid-19,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, the dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and a co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Childrens Hospital. “We already have interventions.”

    How Do You Get Immunised Against Shingles

    You can only get the shingles vaccine on its own, not as a combination vaccine. It is given as a needle.

    Shingles vaccines include:

    Note the Zostavax vaccine contains a small amount of the live virus. Some people may not be able to receive a live vaccine for medical reasons, please discuss with your doctor or immunisation provider for further information.

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    Monkeypox Vaccines: Jynneos And Acam2000

    Monkeypox can spread through close contact, often skin-to-skin, with an infected person or an animal. To control the current outbreak and slow the spread, the FDA has approved two vaccines:

    Jynneos. Also called Imvamune or Imvanex, the vaccine contains a live vaccinia virus thatâs designed to prevent infection for those who are at high risk for monkeypox. Itâs a two-dose vaccine that youâll take 4 weeks apart.

    The injection was originally given under the skin . But in early August 2022, the FDA approved an emergency use authorization that allows health care workers to give the vaccine between the layers of your skin if youâre 18 or older and at high risk for monkeypox infection.

    This EUA also allows people under age 18 who are at high risk for this infection to get the Jynneos vaccine. But they must get it subcutaneously, not intradermally.

    An EUA is not the same as or as thorough as an FDA approval. But with it, the FDA is able to speed up the availability of vaccines during a health care emergency.

    As monkeypox spreads, experts have found the current vaccine supply canât keep up. Intradermal use of the vaccine allows less of it to be used in each injection. This means there are more doses available and more people can get vaccinated.

    When given through the intradermal method, there may be more redness, firmness, itchiness, and swelling at the injection site, the FDA said. They added these side effects were manageable and not severe.

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