There is no immediate need for mass vaccination against monkeypox, despite its spread in several European and African countries, said health experts.that monkeypox, which is a zoonotic disease, is also less transmissible compared with the well-known chickenpox and deadly smallpox.
She was commenting on Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali’s comment that the government would not close the country’s borders despite cases of monkeypox being detected in several countries. Koh said the smallpox vaccine has been found to be effective against monkeypox, and it should be noted that there is no readily available commercial supply of the vaccine as smallpox was declared an eradicated disease by the World Health Assembly in 1980.
“A decision on mass vaccination for any disease will have to take into account its potential harm and also the risk or benefit ratio of the vaccine concerned, not to mention the high cost involved leading to a decision that is also based on a cost and benefit ratio. Although every life is priceless, these are indices that will affect decisions moving forward,” he said.
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