The first import of monkeypox vaccines is already in Brazil. According to the Ministry of Health, a shipment of 9,800 doses landed last Tuesday (4) at Guarulhos Airport in Sao Paulo.

Some 50,000 doses have already been procured through the PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) Revolving Fund. Delivery of the next batches is expected by the end of 2022.

More than 9 million doses of monkeypox vaccine were delivered in Brazil last Tuesday (4) – Photo: Marcello Casal Jr/Agência Brasil/ND

According to the ministry, the immunizers will be used for research in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). “It is important to emphasize that vaccines are safe and currently used against smallpox or smallpox. Therefore, the study is designed to provide evidence for the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of the monkeypox vaccine and thus guide the decision of the decision makers,” the report says.

The study will be coordinated by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), supported by WHO and financed by the Ministry. The study was discussed by the Ministry along with PAHO, researchers and experts in the field.

“The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Jynneos/MVA-BN vaccine against monkeypox in the Brazilian population, that is, whether the vaccine reduces the incidence and progression of the disease to a severe form. The target group of the study will consist of people who are most affected and at greater risk of the disease,” the ministry said, saying that initially the groups that will be vaccinated will be people who have had long-term contact with patients with a diagnosis or who are undergoing antiretroviral treatment. on HIV..

Also, according to the ministry, it will soon be announced which research centers will be included “taking into account cities with a large number of confirmed cases and infrastructure available for research.”