India Develops Mpox Vaccine as Outbreak Declared

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - India's leading vaccine maker, the Serum Institute of India (SII), is developing a vaccine for Mpox or monkeypox, with promising results expected within a year.

“Given the global health emergency declared due to the Mpox outbreak, SII is working on developing a vaccine for this disease to cater to millions of lives that might be at risk,” said SII CEO Adar Poonawalla on Wednesday, August 21, as reported by Times of India.

He anticipated more updates and positive news to share within a year.

The Indian government has issued a set of guidelines recommending isolation for individuals suspected of being infected with Mpox and has instructed the National Institute of Virology (NIV) to test virus samples.

"The vaccines currently available have shown an efficacy of about 80 percent efficacy so they are effective. But the live attenuated vaccines may turn out to be better for administering to vulnerable persons. Mass vaccination will not be required as a strategy,” said Raman Gangakhedkar, director-in-charge of India's National AIDS Research Institute.

Mpox is a rare infectious disease that can spread from person to person. It typically manifests as a mild illness, with most individuals recovering within a few weeks. However, some people may develop complications.

Early symptoms of Mpox include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and fatigue. A rash may appear, often beginning on the face and subsequently spreading to other parts of the body.

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