Hundreds of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have died from a new strain of monkeypox that has spread to parts of central and eastern Africa.
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the epidemic a public health emergency of international importance.
The outbreak was caused by a relatively new and more severe strain of monkeypox known as clade 1b.
The WHO said that in the fight against the epidemic of this virus, it is crucial to get the vaccines to the areas where they are most needed.
What do we know about the monkeypox vaccine and who should get it?
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Is there a vaccine against monkeypox?
There are two monkeypox vaccines recommended by the WHO, but many countries have not yet approved their use.
WHO recommends the MVA-BN (MVA-BN) and LC16 (LC16) vaccines, or the ACAM2000 (ACAM2000) vaccine if the other two are not available.
Earlier this month, the WHO launched a procedure for the urgent use of monkeypox vaccines to allow their faster delivery to lower-income countries that have not yet officially approved them.
This means that organizations such as Unicef, the United Nations (UN) Children's Fund, and Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, can obtain and distribute vaccines.
Currently, WHO does not recommend mass vaccination.
He suggests vaccinating people who are at risk of infection, those who have been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox, and those in areas where there is an epidemic.
If your doctor thinks you will be exposed to an infection on your upcoming trip, the WHO advises that you should get vaccinated.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) last week issued a recommendation for those traveling to high-risk areas in Africa to consider vaccination.
Those who have previously been vaccinated against monkeypox only need one dose instead of two.
In case of constant exposure to this infectious disease, a booster dose of the vaccine is usually recommended every two to 10 years.
Does the old smallpox vaccine protect against monkeypox?
Monkeypox is caused by a virus from the same family of viruses that cause smallpox.
The smallpox vaccine, which many older people have received, may provide some protection against monkeypox.
In 1980, the WHO declared that smallpox was eradicated (the only infectious disease to date that has been officially eradicated), and immunization was stopped more than four decades ago.
Are there enough vaccines against monkeypox?
The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it has a "clear plan" to procure 10 million doses of vaccines by 2025.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Nigeria will start vaccinations from next week - the DRC will use vaccines from the United States (USA) and Japan, and Nigeria from the USA.
The Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Roger Kamba, said that children will be vaccinated first because the rate of infection with monkeypox is higher among those under the age of 15.
The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said it had reached an agreement with a Danish biotech company Bavarian Nordic about the use of their technology for the production of vaccines on the African continent.
The WHO recently asked pharmaceutical companies to make their monkeypox vaccines available for emergency use, even if they are not officially approved.
Nigeria said it expects the first shipment of 10.000 doses of vaccines from the US government next week.
The Democratic Republic of Congo says the US has pledged 50.000 and Japan 3,5 million doses of vaccines.
Does the vaccine provide protection?
The WHO says monkeypox vaccines "provide some level of protection against infection and severe disease".
WHO Europe Director Dr Hans Kluge said this week that despite the emergence of a new strain, monkeypox "is not the new Covid-19" as its spread can be controlled by ensuring equal access to health services and vaccines.
The WHO advises not to expose oneself to the risks of contracting monkeypox after receiving the vaccine, as it takes several weeks to develop immunity.
Some people do not respond to the vaccine, which means they cannot develop immunity to the virus.
Although there is a possibility of getting monkeypox even after receiving the vaccine, it provides protection against a severe form of the disease and hospitalization.
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