Andrew Lover Profile picture
Jun 30 12 tweets 9 min read
▶️ Extensive discussions about potential protection from #monkeypox from pre-1980 smallpox (vaccinia) vaccinations.

▶️ What do we actually know, and
▶️ how well do we know it?

a thread.
1/n
Four main issues:

A. How long did vaccines protect against smallpox?
B. How often was/is 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 recommended?
C. How common were smallpox infections after 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 ?
D. How well does smallpox vax protect against #monkeypox?

2/n
A. Length of protection

▶️ From current ACIP guide, no definitive evidence, but epi studies suggest strong protection for <5 years, with some protection out to 10+ years.

3/n
B. Revaccination

1965 guidance says 5-year intervals are necessary based on epi data.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5897320/

4/n
B. Revaccination

▶️▶️ Current guidelines, 3-year intervals, especially if working with replicating/virulent orthopoxviruses, including #monkeypox.
(note: these are 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 conservative for safety)

5/n
B. revaccination

How long do titres remain high, and what levels confer protection from infection?

Long-term followup, 🇮🇱 military.

▶️ "The protective significance of the above titre is unknown."
▶️ Primary + two-revacciantions "probably" sufficient
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2155973/
6/n
B. Revaccination

Another study looking at measureable antibodies found quite different results from 🇮🇱.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

but ▶️ "The level of antibody required for protection against vaccinia is unknown also."

Likely a healthy cohort bias
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

7/n
C. Infections after vax or revaccination

▶️ How common/severe were cases after vaccination?
Cases imported into Europe '50-'71 were reviewed, & most were revaccinated.

▶️Of secondary cases (local transmission), vast majority were vaccinated (61%, 412/680).
+ fatalities!

8/n
D. How well does smallpox vaccination protect against #monkeypox ?

JYNNEOS approvals were based on animal models and serological correlates.

cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/7…

9/n
D. How well does smallpox vaccination protect against #monkeypox ?

WHO research roundtable states emphatically there are no clinical data to prioritize specific use-cases like post-exposure prophylaxis.

who.int/news/item/03-0…

10/n
▶️Where does all of this leave us?

1. We cannot assume any long-term #monkeypox protection from historical smallpox vaccination. It's likely limited.
2. While JYNNEOS may have good efficacy, we cannot assume it, and we have no data on 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.

11/n
▶️▶️ What are next steps?

▶️ Plan for limited effectiveness against #monkeypox, and implement broader health programming
-----> there are no "magic bullets"

▶️ Uptake for post-exposure vax in UK was very low
▶️ Understanding this is essential!

eurosurveillance.org/content/10.280…

12/n

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Andrew Lover

Andrew Lover Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @AndrewALover

May 29
▶️ How 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 the current #monkeypox situation progress in non-endemic areas?

A thread,

1/n
▶️ There are 3 likely #monkeypox scenarios IMHO (from most to least likely)
A. Semi-rapid mitigation and elimination.
B. Low-level endemicity.
C. Major expansion, mortality and a concurrent pandemic.

Why this range, and what are the 🃏?
(fig from pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28351976/)
2/n
A. 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

▶️ Pros: we have vaccines & treatments, fairly good surveillance.
▶️ Cons: New settings, new populations, and stigmatizing public health messaging:

▶️▶️ MSM focus is a red herring!!
www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/healt…

3/n
Read 11 tweets
May 23
▶️ Things the scientific community may have largely forgotten about regarding #monkeypox.

A thread,
1/n
▶️ In 1988 DA Henderson and colleagues at WHO published the smallpox eradication "redbook" (1473 pages, 3.1 kg!).

𝙒𝙝𝙮?? Because they were concerned their hard-won knowledge would evaporate.

▶️ And guess what?
▶️ There's a whole chapter on #monkeypox !
2/n
But 𝙒𝙝𝙮?? Because monkeypox was a major barrier to eradication.

▶️ It was clinically indistinguishable from mild(er) smallpox, so every single case had to be confirmed as NOT smallpox for eradication certification.
3/n
Read 15 tweets
Dec 28, 2020
▶️▶️ Great to see @rockefellerfdn taking the lead in some ambitious thinking around how we proactively address our pandemic response.

A few additional thoughts... (in no particular order)

▶️ 1/n
▶️ Massive-capacity testing centers.

24-hr turnaround goal essentially 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨 courier delivery daily from testing sites.

4-hour drive seems maximal (logistics) so...
W Coast alone would require 5-6 sites?

(& Broad had automation and skilled staff in spades).

2/n
▶️ HIPAA (& FERPA, higher ed).

While covered, impt to note a waiver has existed since March with little impact.

▶️ Catastrophically huge HIPAA fines ----> staff at all levels are wary of ANY potential violations.

▶️ Unambiguous waiver essential.

hhs.gov/sites/default/…

3/n
Read 12 tweets
Jul 19, 2020
Mass media: reinfection with SARS-CoV-2.
Largely dismissed- no peer review so 'just ' anecdata....

▶️ However, "strange" epi might have very important messages for us: 🚨

▶️ Guinea worm- Chad
▶️ Polio- Hispaniola
▶️ "Strange" malarias- Malaysia/Brazil

🔽 A thread #COVID19 1/n https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/18/health/guinea-worms-dogs-
In 2014, reports of "peculiar" Guinea Worm infections in dogs in one river basin in Chad.

▶️ Initial explanation: unusual pop of dogs in isolated areas feeding on fish; risk to humans was "sporadic and incidental."
🚨 Reality: many areas in Chad; plus baboons in Ethiopia. 2/n
In 2001, report of circulating-vaccine derived polio on Hispaniola .

▶️ Initial explanation: very rare occurrence in low vaccine settings.
🚨 Reality: Currently (a or 𝙩𝙝𝙚) major challenge for the entire polio eradication campaign. 3/n
Read 5 tweets
Jul 11, 2020
Short thread on why "quick and easy" fixes are not going to get the US out of this pandemic quagmire.

▶️ A deathray system to zap malaria mosquitoes had a splashy TED talk and a flurry of press coverage- in 2010.

🦟🦟🦟

#Covid_19 #COVIDー19
nymag.com/intelligencer/…
1/n
Big grand ideas, an amazing prototype, and a high profile demo!

and then.... crickets.

Or actually,🦟 🦟 🦟 🦟 🦟 buzzing.

2/n
Why though?

▶️Things were a bit more complicated than anyone anticipated,
▶️ the nuts and bolts weren't 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 as advertised, and
▶️ the system wasn't 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 ready.

"Just a few minor wrinkles to work out!"

More 🦟 🦟 🦟 🦟 🦟 buzzing.

3/n
Read 9 tweets
Mar 6, 2020
Simple practical guidance on steps you can take
▶️▶️ right now
▶️▶️ to prepare yourself, your family and within your community
▶️▶️ in the event of widespread #COVID19 transmission.

Thread 1/n Image
Thread 2/n Image
Thread 3/n Image
Read 8 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

:(