CDC published Use of JYNNEOS (Smallpox and Mpox Vaccine, Live, Nonreplicating) for Persons Aged ≥18 Years at Risk for Mpox During an Mpox Outbreak: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2023 on June 19 in MMWR. Portions of the article appear below. 

CDC provides interim vaccination guidance for self-limited mpox outbreaks; however, a clade IIb outbreak that began in 2022 has had a protracted course, and the risk for U.S. mpox outbreaks has increased. . . .

On February 22, 2023, ACIP voted to recommend the 2-dose JYNNEOS vaccination series for persons aged ≥18 years who are considered to be at risk for mpox during an mpox outbreak. On October 25, 2023, ACIP voted to recommend the 2-dose JYNNEOS vaccination series for persons aged ≥18 years who are at risk for acquiring mpox during the ongoing clade IIb outbreak that began in 2022. For the latter vote, persons at risk included 1) MSM who, during the past 6 months, have had or anticipate experiencing at least one of the following: a new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted infections, more than one sex partner, sex at a commercial sex venue, or sex in association with a large public event in a geographic area where mpox transmission is occurring; 2) sexual partners of persons who have any of these risk factors; and 3) persons who anticipate experiencing any of these risk factors.

Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.

Related Links

• CDC: MMWR main page providing access to the MMWR family of publications
• Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: Mpox main page

O, Canada! Recognizing Canada’s 157th national anniversary on July 1, we share these select Canadian vaccination resources. Happy Canada Day to the vaccination providers and champions among our readers in Canada!

Expert committees:

• National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), counterpart to ACIP
• Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel (CATMAT)

Advocacy groups:

• CANVax (Canadian Vaccination Evidence Resource and Exchange Centre): search through their library of resources (curated by the Canadian Public Health Association)
• Immunize Canada: a national coalition of nongovernmental, professional, health, government, and private sector organizations with a specific interest in promoting the understanding and use of vaccines recommended by NACI
• Canadian Nurses Association

Helpful resources:

• Canadian Immunization Guide, counterpart to CDC’s "The Pink Book"
• Canadian Communicable Disease Report (CCDR), counterpart to MMWR
• Canadian Adverse Events following Immunization Surveillance System (CAEFISS)
• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
  • Immunization and vaccine awareness materials (PDFs, videos)
  • Immunization Competencies for Health Professionals
• Canadian Paediatric Society: Education Program for Immunization Competencies (EPIC)
• Provincial and Territorial Routine and Catch-Up Vaccination Schedule for Infants and Children in Canada
• Provincial and Territorial Routine Vaccination Programs for Healthy, Previously Immunized Adults
• Help Eliminate Pain in Kids & Adults: organization offering resources to make the vaccination experience more positive for everyone
• CARD System (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract): strategies that will help to provide a better vaccination experience

Government links:

• Health Canada, counterpart to HHS
• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), counterpart to CDC
• Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB), counterpart to FDA
• Drug Product Database online query: list of drugs and vaccines permitted to be distributed within Canada, corresponding to licensed or approved status in the United States

This week, our featured episode from the Ask the Experts Video Series is titled Do I Need to Restart the PCV Series If a Child Started the Series with PCV13? The video highlights that clinicians need not restart the vaccination series nor give additional doses. The previously administered doses of PCV 13 (Prevnar 13, Pfizer) are valid. The series may be completed with either PCV15 (Vaxneuvance, Merck) or PCV20 (Prevnar 20, Pfizer) according to the schedule.

The 1-minute video is available on our YouTube channel, along with our full collection of quick video answers to popular Ask the Experts questions.

Like, follow, and share Immunize​.org’s social media accounts and encourage colleagues and others interested in vaccination to do likewise.

• Facebook at ImmunizeOrg
• Instagram at ImmunizeOrg
• LinkedIn at ImmunizeOrg
• YouTube at ImmunizeOrg

Ask the Experts is one of the most visited sections of the Immunize.org website. With more than 1,300 entries, it provides practical and timely answers to your questions. You may explore five subsections: Ask the Experts Overview, View All Questions, View All Video Questions, Vaccine Topics, and General Topics.

In the example shown below, the reader is interested in the effectiveness of pertussis vaccine. After choosing “Pertussis” from the “Vaccine Topics,” one may click on “All Pertussis.” From there, one can narrow the search.

• Enter a word or phrase into “Keyword Search” (labeled #1 below). Alternatively, use the keyboard find command (Ctrl F). Either will produce yellow highlighted results to aid scanning across up to 65 hits per page.
• To show all highlighted results, click “Show All Answers.” This toggle button will become “Hide All Answers” when clicked again.
• To show highlighted results only in select questions, click the show/hide caret (⌄) on the far right (labeled #2) 
• Apply filters to narrow results (“Show Filters” or “Hide Filters”)

When viewing Ask the Experts, there is now a link icon (🔗, labeled #3) on the right of each question banner, next to the show/hide caret (⌄). Selecting the link icon will copy the corresponding hyperlink for that one question and answer to your clipboard. A “link copied” message will briefly be displayed.

For additional support, view these resources from Immunize.org: 

• Introducing Ask the Experts, video (3:36)  
• Introducing Ask the Experts [Mobile View], video (3:36)  
• Website Office Hours: Ask the Experts Website Section, webinar (32:35)   

In the June 16 issue, JAMA published Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at a Crossroads, an editorial written by the 17 former members of the ACIP. A portion of the editorial appears below. 
 
ACIP committee members have always been selected through a rigorous process based on their expertise in immunology, epidemiology, pediatrics, obstetrics, internal and family medicine, geriatrics, infectious diseases, and public health. Historically, committee members were chosen because they worked at hospitals, clinics, health departments, universities, and other organizations where they dedicated themselves to caring for patients, conducting research, and helping to prevent and treat infectious diseases. Members’ deep understanding of immunization issues ensured that vaccine policies were grounded in scientific evidence, aligned with the needs of economically, socially, and medically diverse US communities, and always considered the public value, trust, and acceptability of vaccines.

CDC published Clade II Mpox Infections Among Cruise Ship Passengers and Crew Members—United States, 2024 on June 19 in MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below. 

During the global clade II mpox outbreak, cases have disproportionately affected gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Cruise ship travel–associated mpox infections have not been previously described. . . .

During January 25–April 18, 2024, CDC was notified of eight mpox cases on four cruise ships: four among crew members and four among passengers. All cases occurred among MSM; five of eight patients had not been vaccinated against mpox. . . .

Cruise lines should consider educating crew members on symptoms, risks, and preventive measures related to mpox and working with medical personnel to facilitate mpox vaccination for eligible crew members. Cruise passengers who are recommended to get the vaccine should receive mpox vaccine before travel. For cruise voyages marketed to gay and bisexual men, mpox-prevention messaging and education before and during voyages are recommended.



Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.

Related Link

• CDC: MMWR main page providing access to the MMWR family of publications