Mpox vaccine not yet approved in SA - NICD
The health sector is waiting for the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to approve the use of a mpox vaccine.
Dr Shanal Nair of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) vaccines are recommended for people at high risk of contracting the disease.
She spoke at a World Health Organisation webinar on Wednesday on the mpox outbreak in South Africa.
Currently, the country has recorded 16 cases of mpox—eight in KwaZulu-Natal, seven in Gauteng, and one in the Western Cape.
Fifteen of these cases resulted in hospitalisation, while three people have died.
Nair said all the cases were men between the ages of 23-48 years, and 11 of them were men who reportedly had sex with other men.
She explained that the vaccines are recommended for healthcare workers who are at risk of exposure, men who have sex with men, and people with multiple sexual partners.
"The vaccine is not registered in South Africa, but the National Agency Group for Immunisation is working on recommendations to consider vaccine for pre- and post-exposure administration for our high-risk groups.
"High-risk exposures include those with intimate or close contact, including direct skin-to-skin contact with Mpox rushes or bodily fluids.
"It must also be noted that wearing a condom may not protect you against mpox because you will still have direct contact that can occur during sexual practices.”
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