Persistent Immunity From Historic Smallpox Vaccination and Its Limited Cross-Neutralization of Monkeypox Virus: A Population-based Serological Study in Taiwan - Takeaways - MDSpire

Persistent Immunity From Historic Smallpox Vaccination and Its Limited Cross-Neutralization of Monkeypox Virus: A Population-based Serological Study in Taiwan

  • By

  • An-Yu Chen

  • Yen-Chen Chen

  • Wen-Hui Fang

  • Le-Tien Lin

  • Yi-Jen Hung

  • Chih-Heng Huang

  • January 14, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Over 80% of individuals born before 1979 retained VACV-reactive antibodies, with 84% exhibiting neutralizing activity.

  • 2

    69% of VACV-seropositive individuals had cross-reactive MPXV antibodies, but only 65% demonstrated MPXV-neutralizing capacity.

  • 3

    MVA-BN vaccination increased VACV and MPXV antibody levels, yet MPXV-neutralizing titers remained low in vaccine-naïve individuals.

  • 4

    Historical smallpox vaccination provides long-lasting humoral immunity and suggests partial cross-protection against MPXV infection.

  • 5

    Findings inform future mpox vaccination strategies and public health planning in regions with different smallpox vaccination histories.

Original Source(s)

Persistent Immunity From Historic Smallpox Vaccination and Its Limited Cross-Neutralization of Monkeypox Virus: A Population-based Serological Study in Taiwan

  • by An-Yu Chen, Yen-Chen Chen, Wen-Hui Fang, Le-Tien Lin, Yi-Jen Hung, Chih-Heng Huang

  • January 14, 2026

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