FDA allows single monkeypox vaccine doses to be divided into five

The FDA has authorized a change in the way the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine is administered that will allow health care providers to give out lower doses.

The Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization on Tuesday that allows health care providers to reduce the dose of the monkeypox vaccine to one-fifth of what has been given until now.

To make that lower dosage possible, the Jynneos vaccine must be administered intradermally, under the top layer of the skin. That's a change from the way it has been administered until now: Those who already got the shot received it subcutaneously, meaning a needle was inserted into a layer of fat between the skin and muscle.

The vaccine is designed as a two-shot regimen, with 28 days in between. The FDA said Tuesday that health care providers should continue to administer two Jynneos shots per recipient, but going forward, each dose can be lower so that more people can access monkeypox vaccines. Those who already received one dose subcutaneously can get their second dose intradermally.

Biden administration moves to stretch out monkeypox vaccine supply amid criticismAug. 9, 202203:24The emergency authorization also allows providers to administer shots subcutaneously to people under age 18 who are at high risk of monkeypox infections.

"In recent weeks the monkeypox virus has continued to spread at a rate that has made it clear our current vaccine supply will not meet the current demand," FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement. "The FDA quickly explored other scientifically appropriate options to facilitate access to the vaccine for all impacted individuals. By increasing the number of available doses, more individuals who want to be vaccinated against monkeypox will now have the opportunity to do so." 

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-monkeypox-vaccine-doses-split-rcna42224

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