France should stockpile anti-smallpox vaccines in order to be ready for future outbreaks of monkeypox (Mpox or Monkeypox), estimated Tuesday, January 3, the High Authority for Health (HAS), while the State has always maintained the vagueness on the real state of these reserves. “HAS recommends building up strategic stocks of third-generation smallpox vaccines,” summary the authority responsible for directing public health policies. Officially called Mpox, monkey pox (Monpeypox) had been present mainly in Africa for several decades. In recent months, it has been the cause of an epidemic outbreak in many northern countries (Europe, United States, Canada, etc.). This strong epidemic has mainly hit men who have homosexual relations. She’s subsided in the last few months. But the authorities are trying to establish how to properly fight once morest future epidemics of this disease, the most serious forms of which are disabling and more rarely fatal. The HAS therefore recommends using, as was done in 2022, the latest generation smallpox vaccines, in view of largely encouraging data on their effectiveness once morest Mpox. On the other hand, she believes that this disease does not pose a sufficient threat to use older smallpox vaccines. The latter, known as first and second generation, represent greater risks of adverse effects, sometimes very severe. There is uncertainty regarding the level of stocks of these vaccines in France. Contrary to other countries, the French State does not give any precise indication, taking refuge behind defense secrecy. The global monkeypox epidemic has taken the world by surprise, with more than 82,000 cases reported in 110 countries in 2022.
