The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to approve monkeypox, which is infected one after another mainly in Europe and the United States, because a vaccine for smallpox with similar symptoms has a preventive effect on the onset of monkeypox.
According to the WHO = World Health Organization, more than 16,000 monkeypox-infected persons have been confirmed in 75 countries and regions such as Europe and the United States, and WHO said, "Public health emergencies of international concern. Is declared.
A second monkeypox patient was confirmed in Japan on the 28th.
Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare decided on the 29th to hold a subcommittee made up of experts to approve the vaccine for smallpox of KM Biologics, a vaccine manufacturer in Kumamoto Prefecture, so that it can also be used as a preventive measure against monkeypox.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the smallpox vaccine has an 85% preventive effect on monkeypox overseas.
It is said that vaccination within 4 days after infection with the virus has a preventive effect on the onset, and vaccination within 14 days has a preventive effect on aggravation.
In addition, side reactions have been mild and no serious symptoms have been reported in previous vaccinations and studies, and WHO recommends its use.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has stockpiled a sufficient amount of smallpox vaccine in Japan, and will continue to develop therapeutic drugs and testing systems in case of spread of infection.