CDC Releases Stockpiled Vaccine for Infectious Monkeypox Disease

CDC officials are releasing doses of the JYNNEOS vaccines and pledging to boost the national stockpile after multiple cases of the rare disease, monkeypox, emerged in the United States. Currently, the US has more than 1,000 doses stockpiled, and officials plan to significantly boost production to prepare for possible spread.

There are at least four presumed cases and one confirmed case of monkeypox throughout the US as of May 23. WHO officials also know of at least 200 confirmed or suspected cases in Europe, North America, and Australia.

"Right now, we hope to maximize vaccine distribution to those we know would benefit from it. So those are people who've had contact with known monkeypox patients, healthcare workers, very close personal contacts, and those who might be at high risk for severe disease,” said Captain Jennifer McQuiston, deputy director of the CDC's High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology Division.

Monkeypox is a rare disease first discovered in 1958. The first case recorded in humans was observed in 1970 in West Africa during the global campaign to eradicate smallpox. Its symptoms are related to smallpox, and the disease spreads through direct contact with contaminated animals, humans, or materials.

The ACAM2000 and JYNNEOS vaccines — also used to inoculate for smallpox — are the only two licensed vaccines that prevent monkeypox. Both vaccines are administered as live viruses, and their use can support public health by eliminating human-to-human transmission.

The CDC maintains a Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) of medical supplies to counter emergency outbreaks of rare diseases and infections. The various vaccinations and immunizations collected by the CDC include pharmaceuticals effective against smallpox, botulism, tularemia, plague, and other agents.

Public health reporting, like the tracking of monkeypox infections, has been made easier using expanded surveillance and data infrastructure tools. This process allows public health experts to pinpoint areas likely to have high infection rates and administer additional preventive vaccinations. The discovery of monkeypox in the US comes at a time when this type of public health practice is at its peak, being heavily utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Measuring the social determinants of health can also be a valuable tool in establishing the spread of infectious diseases through a population. Infectious diseases like monkeypox can sometimes adhere to specific behavior patterns, including occupations, economic status, or sexual orientation. By establishing the trends that correlate with disease prevalence, clinicians can warn people who are more likely to encounter a pathogen, and they can take steps to administer preventive medicine.