Plans are under way to vaccinate more people against mpox as officials work to bolster the UK’s resilience against a strain of the virus rapidly spreading in Africa. While no cases of clade I mpox have been detected in the UK – and the risk to the population is considered low – Health Secretary Wes Streeting said ministers are “closely monitoring” the situation in other countries. Clade I mpox has been deemed more severe than clade II mpox, which was responsible for the global outbreak in 2022.
There is an ongoing clade I outbreak in Africa, with cases of clade Ia increasing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as the spread of a novel strain known as clade Ib. The first European case of clade I mpox was confirmed in Sweden last month. As part of preparations for potential clade I cases in the UK, the Government has ordered more than 150,000 doses of mpox vaccine from biotechnology firm Bavarian Nordic to ensure those who may be at a higher risk of contracting the virus are protected.
It is the same jab that was used to tackle the outbreak in 2022. Under the plans, the Government has agreed that gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men should be offered the vaccine, along with close contacts of confirmed cases, certain healthcare workers in infectious diseases inpatient units and sexual health services, and certain health and humanitarian workers who go to affected countries. It is understood the jab will be offered to patients in stages, as it become.