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….reports Asian Lite News
The 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 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 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.
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