More monkeypox vaccination clinics will be running in Manchester over the next week ahead of Manchester Pride celebrations. The clinics come after Greater Manchester became the first place in the country to trial smaller but equally effective doses of the jab.
The smaller dose approach will stretch existing supplies to protect more people following global shortages, as countries compete for limited stock, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said. The 'safe and clinically-approved approach', known as ‘fractional dosing’, has been commonly used in other worldwide outbreaks when vaccine supplies are constrained, according to the health board.
Booking has now opened for people who are eligible for the vaccine, and have used sexual health clinics across any of the ten areas of Greater Manchester. The safe and clinically approved approach was used first safely in Stockport on Monday, August 2, and will now be used at further two clinics on Thursday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 30.
Vaccines will be available on both days between 8.30 am and 6pm at the Northern Sexual Health Service and people can book here. The clinic is not a walk-in, and appointments should be booked in advance.
The vaccine will as previously be available to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men at highest risk of getting monkeypox, for example if people have multiple partners, participate in group sex or attend ‘sex on premises’ venues, people with a recent bacterial sexually transmitted infection and those eligible for PrEP (the preventative drug for HIV transmission), people who have had recent close contact with someone infected with monkeypox, and healthcare workers caring for and due to start caring for a patient with the virus.
People will be eligible if they have used one of the following providers in Greater Manchester:
Sexual health providers:
- Bolton NHS Foundation Trust [Bolton Centre for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Shine Sexual Health Service (Salford)]
- HCRG [Nye Bevan House, Croft Shifa Health Centre, Middleton Health Centre, Heywood Clinic (all Rochdale); Oldham Integrated Care Centre, Glodwick Primary Care Centre, Royton Health and Wellbeing Centre, Failsworth Primary Care Centre (all Oldham); Bury Townside Primary Care Centre and Radcliffe Primary Care Centre)]
- Locala [The Choices Centre (Stockport) and The Orange Rooms (Tameside)]
- The Northern [in Manchester at the Hathersage Centre, North Manchester General Hospital, Withington Community Hospital, or the Trafford Sexual Health Service (Trafford and Urmston clinics)]
- Spectrum Community Health CIC [Wigan]
General Practice (GPs):
- The Docs, Manchester
Fractional dosing could maximise the number of doses that can be administered without compromising protection, with clinical study results showing it provides a near-identical immune response in patients, says the UKHSA. Under the approach, eligible people aged 18 and over will be offered a 0.1ml dose of the smallpox Jynneos vaccine, instead of the 0.5ml dose that is typically administered.
This will potentially enable up to a five-fold increase in the number of people that can be offered vaccination. Fractional dosing has recently been authorised in the US by the Federal Drug Administration for its own monkeypox response. The European Medicines Agency Emergency Task Force has also approved the approach.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reviewed the evidence in detail alongside the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and is now working with NHS England to test the feasibility of the approach at pilot clinics in Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, and Locala Health and Wellbeing in Greater Manchester.
Christine Khiroya, nurse consultant with lead responsibility for screening and immunisation at NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care said: “We’re really pleased that we can run a further two clinics, using our existing stock, to support people to get vaccinated against monkeypox and allow more people to be vaccinated sooner by making greater use of the limited supplies available.
“We’ve had a great response to clinics previously offered across Greater Manchester, with over 2,000 vaccinations to protect against monkeypox now given. I know people are keen to receive the vaccine as soon as possible, and we hope people will come forward and book an appointment. We are expecting to vaccinate around 200 people, split across the two days.
“Please remember, that as with any vaccine, it won’t give 100 per cent protection, and won’t be effective straight away, so stay alert for symptoms and call NHS 111 or a local sexual health clinic if you have signs of monkeypox, even if it’s just one spot.”
Monkeypox can be passed on from person to person through:
- Any close physical contact with monkeypox blisters or scabs (including during sexual contact, kissing, cuddling, or holding hands)
- Touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with monkeypox
- The coughs or sneezes of a person with monkeypox when they're close to you
Keep yourself and others safe:
- Clean your hands regularly with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand sanitiser
- Know the symptoms if you’re sexually active, especially with new partners
- Talk to partners about their sexual health and remember symptoms can take three weeks to develop, so keep checking yourself.
- Swap contact details if hooking up with someone new
- If you have symptoms, take a break from all intimate contact (including kissing) until you’ve seen a doctor and had the all-clear
- If you’re recovering from monkeypox infection, remember to use condoms for 12 weeks as a precaution
You can find out more about monkeypox at:
- Monkeypox - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- LGBT Foundation - Monkeypox Advice
- Monkeypox vaccination resources - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Monkeypox updates (thenorthernsexualhealth.co.uk)
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