‘More jabs needed’ to halt second surge of monkeypox

THE UK could be hit with a second wave of monkeypox cases if efforts to vaccinate against it are not improved, experts have warned.

While the number of infections has fallen, doctors believe this is due to changes in sexual behaviour rather than the success of the vaccination campaign.

Just over half of those eligible for the jab, which provides strong protection against the painful blistering disease, have come forward.

The condition predominantly affects gay men, and is spread through close physical contact – typically sex.

In some cases, monkeypox can kill. Last week it was announced that two men in the US had died after contracting the disease.

Doctors involved in the UK roll-out say attempts to get more men to come forward for the vaccine have been hampered by a lack of Government support.

Vaccinators involved in the roll-out in the summer have now been redeployed to help deliver flu, polio and MMR jabs, and Covid boosters. This means many clinics do not have enough staff to offer the monkeypox vaccine.

Earlier this month, NHS

England launched a website which would help men find their nearest monkeypox vaccine clinic.

‘We’re just not ready for another spike in cases’

But doctors say many clinics advertised are not able to offer jabs.

‘There are many sites outside London which are either not ready or not able to provide monkeypox vaccines,’ says Dr John McSorley, a consultant sexual health expert at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust. ‘The NHS is promoting this website but most clinics on there won’t be able to deliver.’

According to the UK Health Security Agency, there were 12 new monkeypox cases last week, down from a high of around 150 new cases every week in August.

But experts say this could quickly change. ‘Cases are down because people are worried about catching it and are having less sex,’ says Dr Claire Dewsnap of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV.

‘We know this because new cases of other sexual diseases like syphilis are also down. But people will go back to their old sexual patterns, so we need to be ready for another spike in monkeypox cases. Given the state of the vaccine roll-out, we are far from ready for that.’

An NHS spokesman said: ‘Over 100 clinics opted to be part of the site finder to ensure those not in contact with sexual health services can get protected.’