Orthopoxvirus-specific antibodies wane to undetectable levels 1 year after MVA-BN vaccination of at-risk individuals, the Netherlands, 2022 to 2023
Leanne P. M. van Leeuwen, Marc C. Shamier, Babs E. Verstrepen, Hannelore M Götz, Katharina S. Schmitz, Najlae Akhiyate, Koen Wijnans, Susanne Bogers, Martin E. van Royen, Eric CM van Gorp, Marion Koopmans, Rory D. de Vries, Corine H. GeurtsvanKessel, Luca M. Zaeck
Abstract
In response to the mpox outbreak in 2022 and 2023, widespread vaccination with modified vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN, also known as JYNNEOS or Imvanex) was initiated. Here, we demonstrate that orthopoxvirus-specific binding and MVA-neutralising antibodies waned to undetectable levels 1 year post vaccination in at-risk individuals who received two doses of MVA-BN administered subcutaneously with an interval of 4 weeks, without prior smallpox or mpox vaccination. Continuous surveillance is essential to understand the impact of declining antibody levels.