The modified vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccine is approved in several countries for use in the prevention of mpox and smallpox in adults. New research suggests it’s also safe and produces an immune response in adolescents, a population affected by the current clade I mpox outbreak. [JAMA Network]

In an interim analysis presented at the IDWeek2024 conference, researchers evaluated the immune response generated by 2 doses of MVA-BN in participants aged 12 to 17 years. Midstage results from the National Institutes of Health–funded trial showed that antibody levels in adolescents 2 weeks after the second dose were comparable with those observed in adults. Additionally, the vaccine was well-tolerated for the following 6 months. Although reports of dizziness were more common in adolescents than adults, the frequency was on par with the dizzying effects of other vaccines in this age group.

These results could support a broader application of the MVA-BN vaccine, but the authors stressed the need to review the vaccine’s effectiveness in children younger than 12 years, who are also affected by the current global outbreak.

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