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The UK government has ordered over 150,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic's mpox vaccine in response to the emergence of a new strain spreading in Africa. This move aims to enhance preparedness and protect public health as authorities monitor the situation closely. The vaccine stockpile reflects proactive measures to curb the potential risks posed by the evolving outbreak.
The UK government intends to distribute the mpox vaccine to eligible groups in phases, with clinical needs taking priority.
The UK government has secured over 150,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine to bolster its readiness against a new strain of the virus currently spreading in African nations.
While the clade I mpox strain hasn't been detected in the UK, it has been rapidly spreading beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the outbreak began, and has affected nearby countries, according to Reuters.
“We are preparing for any potential cases that may arise in the UK, with vaccination playing a key role in our defense strategy,” said Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at the UK Health Security Agency.
The government intends to distribute the vaccine in phases, prioritizing based on clinical need. Those eligible include gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, select healthcare workers, specialist humanitarian workers traveling to affected areas, and close contacts of confirmed mpox cases.
Last week, the World Health Organization approved Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine and launched a program to provide vaccines, tests, and treatments to vulnerable populations in the world’s poorest countries.
Several countries, including EU members, have pledged to donate doses to African nations impacted by the mpox outbreak. The European Union has committed to sharing 215,000 doses and urged member states to coordinate their contributions rather than acting independently.
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Source: financialexpress
