A first-of-its-kind survey examining the side effects of the monkeypox vaccine in Israel found that the majority of recipients had no general symptoms.

“Most of the side effects reported by the vaccinated are local and mild, which in most cases pass within one to three days,” said Miri Mizrahi Reuveni, Deputy CEO and Head of the Health Division at Maccabi Healthcare Services, which conducted the survey. Maccabi is one of Israel’s four major public health funds.

This is some of the first data to be systematically reported on side effects of the vaccine and uptake since the outbreak began, however, the data does not reflect on the vaccine’s efficacy which will take more time to assess.

Specifically, some 62% of 155 vaccine recipients reported a return to routine without any general symptoms, Maccabi reported on Monday. The other 38% experienced side effects.

Among those who experienced side effects, most fell into broad categories: 27% reported weakness and fatigue; 11% complained of muscle pain; 9% had headaches; 6% suffered from diarrhea; 5% got nausea; 4% had less appetite and swelling of the lymph nodes; 3% felt chills and joint pain; 1% got a skin rash; and another 1% felt eye irritation.

A majority of recipients, or 74%, experienced pain at the site of injection, including stiffness (22%), localized swelling (7%) and itching (6%).

In most cases, those who experienced side effects said they lasted more than 24 hours. But 22% of recipients who had symptoms said they persist today.

Only 3 percent reported that their symptoms passed in less than 24 hours. About 10% said they lasted one day; 39% said they ended within two to three days; and 19% complained of symptoms that took four to six days to resolve.

Eight-five percent of respondents said they had no hesitation about getting the jab. 

The health fund also asked people why they decided to get vaccinated. The most common responses were a desire to protect themselves and those around them. More than a third said they also were afraid of becoming isolated.

More than people who belong to the HMO have taken the vaccine already, according to Reuveni. The survey began when the country started distributing the vaccine at the start of August. Respondents were asked questions after they got the shot and seven days later.

As of the end of last week, the Israeli Health Ministry reported 197 cases of monkeypox in the country, all of them involving men. Ministry officials told Health Policy Watch on Monday that so far more than 2,300 Israelis have been vaccinated against the virus.

The country recently expanded its vaccination criteria to allow more people to get the shot. Israel ordered 10,000 vaccine doses, of which a little more than half have arrived. Some 4,400 vaccine doses are expected to arrive at the beginning of September, ministry officials said. 

The international monkeypox outbreak began on May 4 when a first case outside of historically endemic African countries was discovered in London. 

Since then, it has spread across the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with more than 35,000 cases of monkeypox reported from 92 countries and territories accompanied by 12 deaths. 

Image Credits: Star919News/Twitter , WHO.