CDC says mpox vaccine boosters aren’t needed in the US as questions emerge around waning immunity

CNN — As a deadly mpox outbreak continues to spread in Africa and other parts of the world, questions are emerging about whether some vulnerable people in the United States may need booster doses of the mpox vaccine. “I’ve literally had people call me and say, ‘Should I get a booster, because it’s been two years?’ and my suggestion right now is, I don’t see an obvious reason for a booster,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown School of Public Health, who served as the White House’s Covid-19 response coordinator and assisted the administration on other public health concerns including the mpox outbreak in 2022. “I just don’t think we have enough data right now to recommend boosters for everybody who got previously vaccinated.” US in ‘preparedness’ mode, as risk still low Local health departments in the US have not seen high numbers of mpox cases this year, said Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive officer for the National Association of County and City Health Officials. “Vaccine rates in the US are unacceptably low, and it’s even lower for people coming back and completing the two doses of vaccine,” Harvey said. “The urgent priority now has to be for gay men and bisexual men and other people at risk to get the vaccine now.” Questions around waning immunity A new study suggests that immunity from Jynneos can wane within a year of vaccination – and due to this, there are questions around whether some people might need booster doses to maintain “robust levels” of protective immunity.