Immunisation and preventive measures against mpox in pregnant women and children: A scoping review
7 affiliations
- 1Public Health Promotion and Development Society, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 2BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 3National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Directorate General of Health Services, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, Continental Hospital PLC, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 5Projahnmo Research Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 6Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 7NSU Global Health Institute, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Abstract
Mpox (monkeypox) poses disproportionate risks to pregnant women and children, yet evidence on immunisation and prevention in these groups remains limited. This scoping review mapped and synthesised existing evidence on vaccines and non-pharmaceutical preventive measures for mpox in pregnant women and children, to assess reported effectiveness, and to identify implementation barriers and facilitators. Peer-reviewed and Grey literature were searched in PubMed, Scopus, and Google for records published since 2008; databases were last searched on 19 September 2025. Screening and data extraction followed a pre-specified protocol and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework. Key themes included immunisation strategies, preventive measures, effectiveness, barriers, and facilitators. Forty-eight peer-reviewed articles and 16 Grey literature sources were included. Third-generation non-replicating vaccines (MVA-BN/JYNNEOS/Imvanex/IMVAMUNE) were consistently recommended for pregnant women and children because of their favourable safety profiles. Observational and programmatic estimates of vaccine effectiveness (single dose 36–86%; two doses up to approximately 89%) came almost entirely from adults, and no effectiveness estimate specific to pregnant women or children was identified. No source reported vaccine use by trimester, and paediatric data were limited to small studies. Ring vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) were supported mainly by adult data. Major barriers included limited vaccine supply and cold-chain and logistical constraints in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), vaccine hesitancy driven by safety concerns, particularly in pregnancy, and the absence of randomised trials in pregnant women and children. Few sources were centred on Africa or other LMICs. Facilitators included international coordination, targeted surveillance, flexible delivery strategies such as intradermal dosing, and integration with maternal and child health services. Priorities include prospective safety and immunogenicity studies in pregnancy and childhood, equitable vaccine access in LMICs, and tailored risk communication to address hesitancy.
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BibTeX
@article{rahman2026immunisation,
title = {{Immunisation and preventive measures against mpox in pregnant women and children: A scoping review}},
author = {Lamisa Rahman and Fahima Nasrin Eva and A. K. M. Ahsanuzzaman and Sadia Monami and Anindita Tabassum and Mohammad Hayatun Nabi and Mohammad Delwer Hossain Hawlader},
journal = {PLOS Global Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pgph.0007583},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007583},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Immunisation and preventive measures against mpox in pregnant women and children: A scoping review
AU - Lamisa Rahman
AU - Fahima Nasrin Eva
AU - A. K. M. Ahsanuzzaman
AU - Sadia Monami
AU - Anindita Tabassum
AU - Mohammad Hayatun Nabi
AU - Mohammad Delwer Hossain Hawlader
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/06
JO - PLOS Global Public Health
DO - 10.1371/journal.pgph.0007583
UR - https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007583
AB - Mpox (monkeypox) poses disproportionate risks to pregnant women and children, yet evidence on immunisation and prevention in these groups remains limited. This scoping review mapped and synthesised existing evidence on vaccines and non-pharmaceutical preventive measures for mpox in pregnant women and children, to assess reported effectiveness, and to identify implementation barriers and facilitators. Peer-reviewed and Grey literature were searched in PubMed, Scopus, and Google for records published since 2008; databases were last searched on 19 September 2025. Screening and data extraction followed a pre-specified protocol and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework. Key themes included immunisation strategies, preventive measures, effectiveness, barriers, and facilitators. Forty-eight peer-reviewed articles and 16 Grey literature sources were included. Third-generation non-replicating vaccines (MVA-BN/JYNNEOS/Imvanex/IMVAMUNE) were consistently recommended for pregnant women and children because of their favourable safety profiles. Observational and programmatic estimates of vaccine effectiveness (single dose 36–86%; two doses up to approximately 89%) came almost entirely from adults, and no effectiveness estimate specific to pregnant women or children was identified. No source reported vaccine use by trimester, and paediatric data were limited to small studies. Ring vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) were supported mainly by adult data. Major barriers included limited vaccine supply and cold-chain and logistical constraints in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), vaccine hesitancy driven by safety concerns, particularly in pregnancy, and the absence of randomised trials in pregnant women and children. Few sources were centred on Africa or other LMICs. Facilitators included international coordination, targeted surveillance, flexible delivery strategies such as intradermal dosing, and integration with maternal and child health services. Priorities include prospective safety and immunogenicity studies in pregnancy and childhood, equitable vaccine access in LMICs, and tailored risk communication to address hesitancy.
SN - 2767-3375
ER -