Are people over 50 immune to monkeypox?

Until 1979, the French were compulsorily vaccinated against smallpox. The disease was later eradicated, but vaccination appears to be effective against monkeypox virus, which is a related disease. “People who are over 50 years of age, on the whole, have been vaccinated against smallpox and are protected, to a large extent, against infection by this virus”explains Jean-Daniel Lelièvre, immunologist, HAS and WHO expert.

The increase in cases of monkeypox does not necessarily mean a massive vaccination campaign. Jean-Daniel Lelièvre thus recommends vaccination “in a ring“, which consists of vaccinating around a case. “I think it’s something that was mentioned in Spain and which could be something relevant in France”, he explains. Monkeypox heals spontaneously in two to three weeks and is transmitted by contact and body fluids. In Europe, cases have been reported in about ten countries.