File of person being administered a monkeypox vaccine (PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)The NHS will pilot giving smaller doses of monkeypox vaccines in a bid to combat shortages, health officials have announced.
The UK Health Security Agency said the approach has been shown to give “near identical” protection as giving bigger doses and has been approved worldwide, including in the EU, US and UK.
According to the latest data, around 70 per cent of the country’s 3,050 confirmed or suspected cases were found within London, mostly among men who have sex with men.
Officials said the “fractional dosing” was introduced on Monday at a sexual health clinic in Manchester and will soon be piloted within Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, both in London.
The approach will mean eligible pre-exposure patients are given 0.1ml of the vaccine as opposed to 0.5ml, meaning more people should be able to receive limited supplies. Some post-exposure patients will continue to receive a 0.5ml dose.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at UKHSA, said: “Adopting this tried and tested technique will help to maximise the reach of our remaining stock, including the 100,000 doses due to arrive in the country next month, potentially enabling us to offer protection for many more thousands of people.
“We will continue to remain agile in our response to the monkeypox outbreak and will adapt our approach as new science and advice becomes available.”
However, the Government has previously faced criticism over the vaccine rollout, with Vauxhall MP, Florence Eshalomi, accusing them of being “asleep at the wheel” over supply.
Speaking to the Standard earlier this month, she called for the government to obtain a licence from the manufacturer of the vaccine to allow it to be made domestically.
According to the latest figures, over 25,000 people have been vaccinated, primarily those thought to be at highest risk of catching monkeypox.
The UK Health Security Agency said it ordered an initial 50,000 doses, adding it was working to expedite a further 100,000 doses set to arrive some time next month.
Of the 50,000 doses, the vast majority of the supply has already been allocated to the NHS, with a remaining 5,000 doses set to be allocated by the end of next week.
Dr Claire Dewsnap, of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) President, said: “It’s fantastic that thousands of vaccines have been delivered, we thank individuals in at-risk communities for stepping up to be vaccinated and services making huge efforts to get vaccine out.
“We have been advised that the next currently planned delivery of vaccine won’t be available until late September.
“BASHH is concerned about the time it will take to receive more vaccines and will continue to work hard with national agencies to make sure the next round of delivery is as smooth as possible.”
