The Mpox pandemic, which was officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a world health emergency on August 14, 2024, has seen a continuous increase within the variety of cases. According to the most recent epidemiological data published within the thirty third epidemiological week of 2024, 88 confirmed cases of Mpox have been reported in Indonesia since 2022.
To prevent further transmission of the virus and increase the variety of cases, the Indonesian government initiated a vaccination program as a part of its efforts to manage the disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the Mpox vaccine be selectively targeted at high-risk groups corresponding to men who’ve sex with men (MSM) AND individuals who have multiple sexual partners. This advice relies on risk evaluation, which indicates the next rate of transmission in these groups.
As a part of more targeted preventive measures, vaccination against Mpox can be offered individuals who have had contact with the virusfor instance, individuals who have been in touch with Mpox patients but haven’t yet shown symptoms (post-exposure vaccination). Although not all exposed people will turn into infected, vaccination provides additional protection.
The scope of vaccinations has also been expanded health care AND laboratory employees as a safety measure to limit the spread of the disease. However, in Indonesia, children are usually not vaccinated against Mpox, despite their susceptibility to varied infectious diseases.
The Department of Health and Social Care stressed that the Mpox vaccine is meant for: for preventive use only and it’s it will not be advisable for mass vaccination. Currently, Mpox vaccination is taken into account a complementary measure within the context of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
According to the 2023 Mpox Prevention and Control Guidelines, the vaccine complements essential strategies corresponding to surveillance, contact tracing, isolation and patient care.
The Mpox vaccine is given as post-exposure prophylaxis to individuals who have had direct contact with Mpox patients, helping to alleviate symptoms or reduce the severity of the disease in high-risk groups. Although the vaccine is helpful, it doesn’t provide complete protection, so additional preventive measures are still needed.
Indonesia is using the modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) Mpox vaccine, a third-generation non-replicating vaccine derived from smallpox that doesn’t contain live virus, making it safer. This vaccine is advisable by WHO to be used through the Mpox epidemic and might be distributed selectively in Indonesia as a consequence of limited availability.
Priority might be given to areas where Mpox cases have been reported, corresponding to Jakarta, Banten, West Java, East Java, Riau Islands and Yogyakarta. Bali may even receive priority as it is going to host the Indonesia-Africa Forum on September 1-3, 2024, which can bring together participants from Mpox-affected countries.
