Gay men could be given vaccine for monkeypox

We need new plan, say scientists

A VACCINATION programme for gay and bisexual men may be needed to tackle monkeypox, experts have suggested.

The number of monkeypox cases in England has now reached 70, as of May 23, amid a global outbreak including countries such as Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Australia, the US and Israel.

It has been proposed the disease is being transmitted outside of Africa through ‘superspreader events’, including festivals and raves.

A large proportion of cases in the UK are among gay and bisexual men, and the virus causing monkeypox spreads through close contact.

To protect this group, it is being suggested that a vaccine for men who have sex with men could be considered.

Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said: ‘If this outbreak hasn’t peaked within a few weeks, we need to start looking at offering vaccines to gay men, bisexual men and men who have sex with men.

‘It’s common sense to offer this group a preventative option to protect them against monkeypox, while being careful not to stigmatise them. We will never need to vaccinate the entire population, because the risk is so low, but targeted vaccination is sensible.

‘The strategy of offering men who have sex with men a oneoff jab is top of the list of the next actions we will need to take.’

Dr Jake Dunning, consultant in infectious diseases at London’s Royal Free Hospital, said vaccination for gay and bisexual men should be considered ‘in principle’.

He said: ‘It requires data first to identify these men as a group with an ongoing, particular risk of acquiring or being exposed to monkeypox. This needs to be done rapidly, after enough time to see how much of a problem monkeypox is in these men, in terms of the number of cases and the impact on their health.’ Officials are not understood to be considering vaccinating gay and bisexual men, but have not ruled out doing so. The UK had 5,000 doses of smallpox vaccine Imvanex, which provides around 85 per cent protection from monkeypox, before the current outbreak. Health Secretary Sajid Javid directed officials to buy more than 20,000 additional doses after cases began to rise last week.

Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, said: ‘We are currently vaccinating high-risk contacts.’

She added they would work with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation before considering wider vaccination strategies.

‘Common sense to offer protection’