The European Union’s drug regulator on Friday approved a way of stretching supplies of the monkeypox vaccine to treat up to five times more people.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said the Imvanex jab can now be given just below the top layer of skin (intradermally), instead of fully below the skin (subcutaneously).
The advice is in line with the approach endorsed by US regulators, who backed using one vial of Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine to administer up to five separate doses.
The Amsterdam-based agency said the temporary measure would allow EU states to stretch out their limited stocks of the vaccine.
Despite giving one-fifth of the originally intended dose, the shot produces similar levels of antibodies, a statement from EMA said, adding, however, that there was a greater risk of skin irritation.
People still need to get two doses, about four weeks apart.
European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said the decision was “extremely important as it allows the vaccination of five times as many people with the vaccine supply we have.”
“This ensures greater access to vaccination for citizens at risk and health care workers,” she said in a statement.
The unusual recommendation acknowledges that there are extremely limited supplies of the vaccine, which was originally developed against smallpox.
Bavarian Nordic has said it expects to have about 16 million doses available this year.
