JYNNEOS Smallpox Vaccine in Adult Healthcare Personnel at Risk for Mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Summary

Mpox is a febrile rash illness caused by the monkeypox virus. Its natural occurrence in the DRC puts healthcare and frontline workers at high risk of acquiring monkeypox virus infections that can prevent them from performing work duties, compromise the overall healthcare delivery in an already fragile system, and can result in death (case fatality estimates are approximately 10%). This is an open-label prospective cohort study in up to 1,600 eligible healthcare workers at risk of mpox infection through their daily work. The study will document mpox exposure and infection in participants while concurrently evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine, JYNNEOS (also known as MVA-BN, IMVAMUNE®, IMVANEX), in healthcare personnel in the DRC. Participation in the study is voluntary and open to male and female healthcare personnel ages 18 years and older in Tshuapa Province in The Democratic Republic of Congo who are at risk of monkeypox virus infection through their daily work or laboratory personnel performing diagnostic testing for monkeypox virus.

Timeline

Start

2017-02-23

Primary completion

2025-10-31

Completion

2025-10-31

Publications

• Results Priyamvada L, Minhaj FS, Likafi T, Pukuta E, Muyamuna E, Carson WC, Moriarty M, Rodriguez S, Joseph T, Kabamba J, Kokola G, Lushima RS, Muyembe-Tamfum JJ, Hughes CM, Petersen BW, Yu Y, Rao A, McCollum AM, Kaba DK, Nguete BU, Satheshkumar PS, Townsend MB. Immunogenicity and safety of MVA-BN vaccine administered 5 years after a two-dose primary series in DR Congo: a prospective cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2026 Jun;26(6):571-580. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(26)00001-0. Epub 2026 Mar 9.
• Results Minhaj FS, Mandra A, Nguete BU, Likafi T, Kokola G, Tran S, Kennedy JL, Monroe B, Hughes CM, Joseph T, Person MK, Townsend MB, Satheshkumar PS, Kabamba J, Reynolds MG, Rao AK, Kasongo D, Yu PA, Yu Y, Shongo Lushima R, Kaba D, Petersen B, McCollum AM. Safety of MVA-BN vaccine in health-care personnel in DR Congo: a prospective cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2026 Jun;26(6):561-570. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00779-0. Epub 2026 Mar 9.
• Results Petersen BW, Kabamba J, McCollum AM, Lushima RS, Wemakoy EO, Muyembe Tamfum JJ, Nguete B, Hughes CM, Monroe BP, Reynolds MG. Vaccinating against monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Antiviral Res. 2019 Feb;162:171-177. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.11.004. Epub 2018 Nov 14.
• Hatmal MM, Al-Hatamleh MAI, Olaimat AN, Ahmad S, Hasan H, Ahmad Suhaimi NA, Albakri KA, Abedalbaset Alzyoud A, Kadir R, Mohamud R. Comprehensive literature review of monkeypox. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2022 Dec;11(1):2600-2631. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2132882.

Drugs

Indications