Monkeypox and COVID-19 Vaccine: Is There a Link Between the Two? Here’s What Experts Tell Us

There have been claims that Monkeypox is a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine. Amid the recent rise in monkeypox cases throughout the United States, some people on social media are saying the disease is associated with COVID-19 vaccines.

A Twitter screenshot shared on Instagram earlier this month read, "Monkeypox is another lie-another VACCINEPOX," according to a USA Today report.

This post gained more than 300 likes in less than one week. An article published in The Expose details claims that monkeypox only circulates in countries where the Pfizer vaccine has been distributed. The claim though, this report said, is baseless.

According to an infectious disease specialist, monkeypox is not associated with any of the COVID-19 vaccines.

No Link Between Monkeypox and COVID-19 Vaccine

Such vaccines do not contain any live viruses. Therefore, it is impossible that monkeypox can be a side effect.

Monkeypox is most definitely not a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine or any jab for that matter, explained infectious disease specialist, Dr. Scott Roberts, at Yale University. No evidence from any clinical research is available that backs the claim.

Essentially, monkeypox outbreaks have impacted the country, as well as the other parts of the world, even prior to the production, as well as the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

According to the World Health Organization, human monkeypox was initially identified in humans in the Democtratic Republic of the Congo in 1970. In the early 2000s, more than 40 cases of monkeypox were detected in six states.

No Monkeypox Virus Content

The WHO describes monkeypox as a disease caused by infection from the monkeypox virus which comes from the Orthopoxvirus genus.

The disease can be transferred to humans through close contact with an "infected person or animal," or with material infected with the virus.

The said vaccines do not contain any monkeypox virus DNA or live viruses that can spread the disease in a person, Roberts said.

The Food and Drug Administration has not listed the monkeypox virus as an ingredient for the three COVID vaccines presently available in the US including Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson.

mRNA Vaccines

COVID-19 expert Dr. Stuart Ray from Johns Hopkins University agreed, noting that since vaccines against this virus are not transmissible agents, they cannot cause an infectious disease like monkeypox.

He elaborated that monkeypox is not related clinically, epidemiologically, and genetically "from COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and vaccination."

Essentially, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are mRNA vaccines, delivering mRNA strains in the body to help cells generate spike protein which the immune system combats later through antibodies, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Nevertheless, mRNA vaccines cannot cause infection with the virus that's causing COVID-19 or other viruses.

'False' Claim

The latest data from the CDC specified that the monkeypox virus "is not a lie" as what's being claimed in the post.

There are more than 9,000 cases of monkeypox in the country as of August 9. In addition, several states have started to offer vaccines against monkeypox to the public to help limit the spread of the disease.

Last week, the US administration declared the outbreak of a public health emergency concerning the virus.

Based on studies, the claim that monkeypox is a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine is false. Experts said there is no evidence that backs such a claim. Lastly, this vaccine does not contain live viruses, and therefore, it is impossible for monkeypox to be associated with the vaccine.

Related information about the link between Monkeypox and COVID-19 is shown on CBC News's YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on Medicine & Health and COVID-19 in Science Times.