UK secures more vaccines to help boost resilience against mpox
Additional vaccines will help ensure the UK can protect those that may be at high risk from mpox
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.
The UK Government is at the forefront of the international response, through early, critical support to the DRC, the epicentre of the mpox outbreak, and through leading investment in multilateral organisations that are essential for responding to health emergencies.
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:
There are no cases of clade I mpox confirmed in the UK and the risk to the general UK population of being exposed to mpox clade I is currently considered low.
However, we are preparing for any cases that we might see in the UK and vaccination plays a vital part in our defences.
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.
Last month, The Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury, visited the DRC and announced over £3 million of UK funding to partner with UNICEF in order to bolster efforts to tackle mpox and cholera outbreaks in the DRC, helping to prevent the further spread of mpox to neighbouring countries. Through our new partnership with UNICEF we will reach 4.4 million people in affected communities, raising awareness of mpox, boosting the DRC’s response by strengthening surveillance of mpox, and help to prevent the further spread of mpox to neighbouring countries.
As the largest flexible donor to the WHO globally (£340m 2020-2024), the UK supports the WHO to prepare for health emergencies and respond to them quickly. The UK is also providing £3 million to WHO’s Regional Office for Africa for health emergency response.
The UK is also the second largest donor to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance - providing £1.65bn over the 2021-2025 period. Gavi will be critical to ensure a sustainable and effective vaccine response to mpox. Gavi has unlocked $2.9m to support the DRC’s vaccination efforts and we continue to work closely with them to ensure the countries that need them most have access to mpox vaccines.
Minister for Development, Anneliese Dodds said:
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.
Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening, said:
The NHS remains fully prepared to roll out mpox vaccination at pace once again to priority groups. While the risk of catching mpox in the UK is low, vaccination offers a vital level of protection for those most likely to be exposed. We encourage those eligible to come forward when invited by local health services, to ensure they have the best defence.
Today’s announcement comes as UKHSA publishes its first technical briefing on clade I mpox which provides further information on the current situation and UK preparedness and response.
Widespread planning underway continues across government to deal with any potential cases in the UK, with ministers across UK government and the devolved administrations working closely together to coordinate this response.
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