Dear Dr. K- 

Dear Dr. K- 

I recently read that monkey pox vaccine can be given ID.  Is that true?

Yes, it is true.  In fact, early research indicates that it is the preferred route of administration in terms of getting the best immunologic protection. 

At this point the only other vaccines approved for ID (intradermal) dosing are the flu vaccines and the polio vaccine.  The advantages of ID vaccination are several.  It can generate an immune response as good or better than an intramuscular vaccine but with as little as one fifth the dose.  Owing to its superficial administration it avoids the rare risk of nerve, blood vessel or muscle injury that can occur with IM dosing.  The Gates Foundation has spent 5 billion dollars to help eradicate global polio and have used the dosing efficiency to great advantage.

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