The UK Government has ordered more mpox vaccine doses to help boost the country’s resilience against clade I mpox, as it also continues to support the international effort to control the disease.
The purchase of more than 150,000 doses of mpox vaccine from Bavarian Nordic will help ensure the UK is well prepared for any cases of clade I mpox that may enter the country. This purchase will enable the NHS to vaccinate those that may be at higher risk of coming into contact with mpox, with separate rollouts across all 4 devolved nations.
The vaccine will be offered to those eligible in stages as it becomes available over time and based on clinical need.
The government has agreed the following people should be offered vaccination, based on expert advice:
- gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) previously identified at higher risk of coming into contact with mpox as a continuation of the clade II mpox vaccination programme, as advised by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in November 2023 – planning is under way for how and when the vaccine will be rolled out as part of this existing programme
- certain healthcare workers in agreed infectious diseases inpatient units and sexual health services
- certain specialist healthcare and humanitarian workers who go to affected countries to work within mpox response or sites with active outbreaks following a risk assessment
- close contacts of a confirmed case to lower their risk of becoming infected and reducing their risk of severe disease
Further information on how vaccination will be offered will be provided in due course.
The purchase of this vaccine comes amid growing concern over the spread of clade I mpox which the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) after an upsurge in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and parts of Africa.
Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: "The government is taking action to boost the UK’s resilience against clade I mpox, while providing critical support to countries at the centre of the outbreak.
"No cases of clade I mpox have been detected in the UK, but we are taking steps to ensure the country is prepared with a robust vaccination programme that protects those who may be at high risk.
"Across government, we are closely monitoring the spread of this virus overseas and are proud to be at the forefront of the international response, including through our early support to the Democratic Republic of Congo."
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at the UK Health Security Agency, said: "Alongside vaccination, we have been working rapidly to ensure that clinicians are aware and able to recognise cases promptly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are developed for the safe clinical care of people who have the infection and the prevention of onward transmission."
Minister for Development, Anneliese Dodds, added: "The UK is at the forefront of the global response to mpox through our investments in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF, as well as our support to the World Health Organization.
"Our new partnership with UNICEF in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will support its government’s response and reach 4.4 million people in affected communities. We will continue to work with all our partners to ensure vaccines get into the arms of the people that need them.
"By acting now we have the best chance of saving lives, preventing further spread of mpox and protecting people at home and abroad."
There are two major types of mpox, known as clade I and clade II. Clade II has been present in the UK since an outbreak in 2022, although clade II cases are now significantly reduced from the peak in the summer of 2022. No cases of clade I mpox have been identified in the UK to date.
Vaccination against clade II mpox began in 2022. This was hugely important in helping to reduce the risk of mpox in the populations where cases were detected in the United Kingdom during and since the outbreak.
Anyone can catch either clade of mpox, as it spreads through close contact (especially touching or sexual contact) with someone who has the mpox virus, and through contact with contaminated materials. It does not spread easily unless there is close contact.
