Monkeypox Vaccine Available at Many Places in Hungary

Taking into account the domestic epidemiological situation of monkeypox, the amount of available vaccine and international recommendations, the National Public Health Center (NNK) consulted with the Infectiology Section of the Professional College and the National STD Center and developed a vaccination recommendation for the use of monkeypox vaccine, they said. The monkeypox vaccine is available in several health institutions in the country.

They added that monkeypox is a virus with a moderate ability to spread from human to human. Transmission can usually occur through prolonged direct close contact with body fluids – saliva, urine, genital secretions – or objects contaminated with body fluids, such as bedding or clothing. Therefore, the monkeypox vaccine may be required for persons at risk.

It was announced that vaccination is available for people in the MSM ("men who have sex with men") population who have had a history of sexually transmitted disease in the last six months, and for people in this population who have HIV and have sex with more than one man. The vaccine can also be provided to health care workers who are exposed to the virus at work. Vaccination can also be requested within 14 days of last contact by people who can prove that they have had close (intimate, sexual) contact with a person with confirmed monkeypox or live in a shared household.

The NNK said that anyone who has already had monkeypox infection or who has symptoms suspected of having monkeypox at the time of vaccination should not be vaccinated. Anyone with a contraindication to vaccination will also not be vaccinated. A second vaccination cannot be given to anyone who has confirmed monkeypox after the first vaccination, it was explained.

It was recalled that the vaccinator decides in each case whether a person is eligible for vaccination and whether vaccination is necessary. The monkeypox vaccine consists of two doses, which can be given four weeks apart. Immunity is established by receiving the full series of vaccinations. Vaccination against monkeypox is voluntary and free of charge.