The UK Health Security Agency announced that people at high risk of contracting monkeypox disease will be offered second doses of the vaccine. UKSHA said sexual health clinics will continue to prioritise offering first doses of the monkeypox vaccine to those at high risk. Some clinics will offer a second dose to the eligible people, which should provide long-term protection.
The announcement comes as monkeypox infection cases continue to fall, and in early September there were fewer than 15 monkeypox cases a day on average. Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director of public health programs at the UKHSA, said it is encouraging that they are continuing to see fewer monkeypox cases reported in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam added that they are grateful to everyone who has followed the advice regarding potential symptoms, and isolated themselves as part of the monkeypox outbreak and came forward for a vaccination to help stop monkeypox transmission.
The UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation validates the proposal of UKHSA to offer second doses of monkeypox vaccine to people at high risk. Currently, there are no plans to widen the vaccination offering beyond the existing priorities, but the decision will be kept under review.
