The UK government has taken proactive measures by ordering over 150,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine to enhance its readiness against a new variant of the virus currently spreading in African countries. Although no cases of clade I mpox have been identified in the UK, the strain has swiftly extended beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo, affecting neighboring nations.
Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at the UK Health Security Agency, emphasized the significance of vaccination in fortifying their defenses against potential cases in the UK. The government intends to administer the vaccine in phases, prioritizing eligible individuals based on clinical requirements.
Furthermore, the World Health Organization has approved Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine and initiated a program to provide vaccines, tests, and treatments to disadvantaged populations in the world’s poorest countries. Some countries have pledged to donate mpox vaccine doses to African nations affected by the outbreak, with the European Union offering 215,000 doses and advocating for a coordinated donation approach among its members.