The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) published this Tuesday, July 12, a rule on vaccination against Human Infection by Monkeypox virus, recommending the vaccine in a post-exposure context, that is, for people identified as contacts close to notified cases.
According to the DGS, “vaccination must be carried out within the first four days after the last close contact with a case, and this period can go up to 14 days if the person remains without symptoms”.
The vaccine is recommended as it “may prevent or attenuate the clinical manifestations of human infection with Monkeypox virus”.
In a note, the health authority also emphasizes that “close contacts should be indicated after notification of a suspected case so that they can be contacted individually and a declaration for vaccination issued at one of the vaccination points defined by each health region”.
So far, Portugal has received 2700 doses of vaccine against Human Infection by the Monkeypox Virus and, according to the DGS, the doses donated by the European Commission through HERA (Sanitary Preparation and Response Authority) will be distributed to the different regions of the country «from according to specific needs related to the epidemiological profile, which differs from region to region'.
This measure was developed by the National Health Authority / Directorate-General for Health, to control the outbreak of human infection by the Monkeypox virus, in conjunction with the National Authority for Medicines and Health Products - INFARMED, IP, to Shared Services of the Ministry of Health. Health (SPMS) and the National Institute of Health, Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA) and with the Regional Health Administrations (ARS).
The DGS standard can be consulted here
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