cell-culture derived smallpox vaccine

Cell-culture derived smallpox vaccines are a modern class of vaccines developed to protect against smallpox and related orthopoxviruses, such as mpox. Unlike older smallpox vaccines that were produced on the skin of live animals, these vaccines are manufactured using cell culture technology, which allows for greater purity and large-scale production. Two prominent examples are ACAM2000 and JYNNEOS (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex). ACAM2000 is a live, replication-competent vaccinia virus vaccine derived from the New York City Board of Health strain of vaccinia and grown in Vero cells. JYNNEOS, on the other hand, is a live, attenuated (weakened), non-replicating Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA-BN) virus vaccine, cultured in chicken embryo fibroblast cells, making it suitable for immunocompromised individuals. Both types work by introducing the vaccinia virus to the body, stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies and T-cells that provide cross-protection against the variola virus (which causes smallpox) and the mpox virus. These vaccines are primarily used for individuals at high risk of exposure to these viruses and are maintained in national stockpiles for emergency preparedness.