Barouch and colleagues assessed mpox-specific immune responses for 12 months in 45 individuals who were vaccinated during the 2022 mpox outbreak. The team performed an observational study in adults who received either one or two doses of the MVA-BN vaccine (known by the brand name Jynneos) or who had a confirmed diagnosis of mpox infection, assessing serum antibody and T cell responses at baseline, three weeks, three months, six months, nine months, and 12 months following vaccination. They observed that vaccination generated serum mpox antibodies that largely waned six to 12 months after vaccination.
“Our study highlights the importance of completing the recommended two-dose mpox vaccine, whether subcutaneous or intradermal, to boost immunity—regardless of the time between doses,” said lead author Ai-ris Yonekura Collier, MD, co-director of the Clinical Trials Unit at BIDMC. “In this mpox outbreak, ensuring broad access to the full vaccine series is crucial.”
Serum mpox antibodies correlated with protection against mpox challenge in preclinical studies. Larger human studies are needed to confirm generalizability and to assess vaccine efficacy over time, Barouch said.
Co-authors included Katherine McMahan, MS, Catherine Jacob-Dolan, PhD, Jinyan Liu, PhD, Erica N Borducchi, PhD, of BIDMC; and Bernard Moss, MD, PhD, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Read Full Article…