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:

 I-base Mpox Q&A 

General information about Mpox from the NHS

Latest updates from the UKHSA

March 23rd 2023 

The 2023 theme for Women’s History Month is "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories."

HIV activist Ana Oliveira is sharing her story to inspire others and help to break down HIV stigma and discrimination. Read part 1 here. 

Here is part 2 where Ana shares her status with her loved ones and starts to move forward.....

I shared my HIV status to my children at different times and they were very supportive. They were the ones who encouraged me to become an advocate and my Instagram page was set up with their help.

Then I progressively shared my status with my extended family and close friends. Telling my mum was nerve wracking but it turned out to be a very positive response.

To my surprise, she knew all about the difference between the virus and the late stage of HIV, she just wasn’t too sure about the treatment itself. I explained that I only take one pill a day. She lifted up her shirt and said “better than my treatment for diabetes… look at my belly ruined by insulin injections”.

Then she hugged me tight and said: “Don’t cry my daughter, I know you will not fall ill, as you are on treatment, but if you fall ill I will feed you”. Then she said how proud she is to have me as her daughter and that she would never turn her back on me. 

I knew this day was the beginning of finding myself again.

My faith and the unconditional love of my children, family and friends are my rock.

Attending therapy, getting involved with George House Trust and developing strong links with the HIV community has created miracles.

With time, I started to realise that the labels imposed by others don’t define me. And by looking at stigma in this way I kind of understood that the first change needed to come from within. Only then I could find strength to fight the stigma of others. 

I learned how to deal with my emotions and day by day I’m detaching myself from the pain that once drove me to the edge. I would say that I’m still going through the healing journey in terms of how I become HIV positive. I call it the hidden pain of HIV.

But I can firmly say that accepting my diagnosis and being public about it has definitely changed the narrative.  

I share my story to inspire others and help to break down stigma and discrimination. 

Ana Oliveira 14th March 2023