Mpox - Final Vaccination Dates Announced
The most recent Mpox (formally named ‘Monkeypox’) outbreak started in summer 2022 with cases reported worldwide for a number of months. The outbreak mainly affected gay, bisexual and MSM (men who have sex with men).
The outbreak has largely been brought under control with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reporting just six new cases this year, three of which were returning travellers. This is because of the roll-out of an effective vaccine and initial behavioural changes amongst affected groups.
Due to this, the UKHSA plans to halt the vaccination programme but will continue to closely monitor the situation.
Vaccination remains the most effective way of protecting you and people around you from mpox
People at risk from mpox are eligible for two doses:
If you’ve not had your first dose, you must come forward for this by the 16th June.
If you need a second dose, you must come forward for this by the 31st July.
You can get a vaccine at your local sexual health/GUM clinic. If you live in Manchester, The Northern is doing a weekly vaccine clinic. You can book here.
If you live in other Greater Manchester boroughs, you can find your local Mpox vaccine clinic here.
The NHS also has an easy to use vaccine finder website that will tell you where you can get a vaccine locally to you.
The vaccine is safe, free and administered by a healthcare professional.
Information about Mpox
It’s important to note that Mpox is normally a mild illness and is unlikely to lead to further complications. Most people recover from in a few weeks. In the recent outbreak, 1 in 10 people need to be treated in hospital, this is usually to help manage pain.
How does Mpox transmit?
- By close contact with someone who has symptoms, e.g. touching skin, sexual contact, kissing, hugging - this is especially after the ulcers have developed. This is because the fluid in MPX blisters is highly infectious.
- Through droplets in the air - this usually involves extended time with someone in a room with poor ventilation. For example, spending more than 3 to 6 hours, where you are within two meters.
- Touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the Mpox rash.
The risk of catching Mpox is generally low. However, it is much higher for people who have multiple partners, or whose partners have these risks. There is a greater risk of catching Mpox from sexual partners and people you live with.
There is a greater risk of catching Mpox if you attend sex parties, sex on premises venues (e.g. a sauna), attend cruising grounds or have multiple individual sexual partners.
What are the symptoms?
It can take 1 to 3 weeks for Mpox symptoms to develop. For most people, this is 10 to 12 days after contact.
Initial symptoms of Mpox include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. Unexpected or unexplained spots, ulcers or blisters can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body including the genitals.
The spot, ulcer or blister changes over time and goes through different stages, and can look like chickenpox, herpes or syphilis, before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.
Symptoms last for up to four weeks.
HIV and Mpox
The Lancet reports that “people living with HIV have accounted for 38-50% of those affected in the 2022 multi-country mpox outbreak” and goes on to state that “most reported cases were in people who had high CD4 counts and similar outcomes to those without HIV”.
You can read the full Lancet report.
However, a small proportion of people living with HIV who have contracted mpox have a low CD4 count (below 350) and Aidsmap reports “worse clinical outcomes and higher mortality in people with more advanced HIV”.
You can read the full article here.
The British HIV Association (BHIVA) recommends that everyone living with HIV has the mpox vaccine.
You can find additional information about Mpox here:
General information about Mpox from the NHS
March 23rd 2023