Mpox Vaccine Encouraged for Gay and Bisexual Men

British health authorities are encouraging gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men to get vaccinated against Mpox, as a strain called "Clade Ib" shows early signs of local spread in some European countries. The UK health agency is aware of a small number of cases of this strain of Mpox in Spain, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands, as well as in the USA.

What is Mpox?

Mpox is usually a mild infection, but it can be serious, and vaccination is the best protection. The most common symptoms of Mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions that can last two to four weeks. Mpox can also cause fever, headache, muscle pain, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

Transmission and Risk

This virus is transmitted from person to person through close physical contact, coughing or sneezing, and touching infected clothing, bed linen, or towels. The vaccination is recommended for men who have sex with men and those who have multiple sexual partners, have group sex, or visit sex-on-premises venues. The Mpox vaccine is also recommended for people who work in places where sex takes place on site, such as cleaning staff, and anyone who has had or will have close contact with someone who has Mpox.

Vaccination and Protection

Although the vaccine has not been tested against Clade Ib MPox, it is known to be effective in protecting against another strain called Clade II. Therefore, vaccination protection is to be expected. Vaccinations are now available from sexual health services, and the NHS advises calling a sexual health clinic to learn about the MPOX vaccine before treatment. Most people are offered two doses, usually at least 28 days apart.

Recent Outbreaks and Travel

In 2022, there was a global outbreak of Clade II Mpox, affecting many countries worldwide, particularly gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. To date, there have been 16 cases of MPOX Clade Ib in the UK, all in England, but no evidence of spread within the GBMSM community. All cases were directly or indirectly linked to travel to countries where this strain is common. With the Winter Pride season approaching across Europe, it is advisable for those traveling to these events to be vaccinated at least once, if not twice.