Information for health care professionals (Monkeypox)

Vaccination

From September, the vaccine will be administered intradermally instead of subcutaneously. The only exception are patients with severe immunosuppression, who will still receive it subcutaneously.

The subcutaneuous vaccination scheme consists of two vaccines at D0 and D28. Persons who receive the vaccine intradermally should therefore receive a second dose after 28 days. For persons who in the past received the vaccine subcutaneously, the second dose was postponed until the end of the year (delivery of new vaccines). This will continue to be the case. The exception is patients with severe immunosuppression, who should receive a second subcutaneous dose at 28 days.

Contraindications to vaccination:

• Having symptoms suspicious for monkeypox or have already experienced monkeypox.

• Persons who received a smallpox vaccine as a child: persons up to and including year of birth 1976. Persons with severe immunosuppression are an exception.

• Persons <18y

• Allergies to one of the components of the vaccine: chicken protein, benzoin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin.

• An interval of four weeks must be observed with live vaccines. For men under the age of 40 years, an interval of four weeks should also be respected with COVID mRNA vaccines.

• Severe local reaction >10 cm at the injection site is a contraindication for intradermal administration of the second dose.

More information: MPX Vaccination by intradermal technique

Proper sample collection and packaging

People who suspect a monkeypox infection should make an appointment at ITM or another centre that provides monkeypox testing.

Sending swabs to a lab for PCR testing

Swabs of skin lesions (eSwab) for monkeypox PCR diagnostics can be sent to ITM.