A leading Dublin doctor has warned that Ireland is facing a "significant short supply" in monkeypox vaccines as the HSE starts rolling out jabs today.
Professor Fiona Lyons is Clinical Lead of the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme, and she said that the HSE estimates that up to 6,500 people are at heightened risk and would "benefit" from a vaccine. However, current supplies will only allow vaccination for around 10% of them.
The number of confirmed cases of monkeypox in Ireland has risen to 113. Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Prof Lyons said: "We estimate there are between 6,000 and 6,5000 people who would benefit from the vaccine at this time, that's in line with criteria in NIACA recommendations where individuals who have certain risk factors are offered the vaccine. It's very similar to the approach that has been taken in the UK.
Read more: Almost 100 cases of monkeypox cases confirmed in Ireland with 10 people hospitalised
"We're in significant short supply, we can only at this time see to about 10% of people we believe to be eligible. And we also anticipate as is the case with many vaccines that the uptake in vaccines will be very high in the community who are very pro-vaccine, which is a great thing all together."
Currently, 113 cases of monkeypox have been reported in Ireland according to latest figures from the HSE. According to the HSE, anyone can get monkeypox although most cases have been in men who are gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men.
According to Prof Lyons, between now and the end of the year as of today they can only offer vaccines to approximately 600 individuals. She said: "So that is not where Ireland wants to be, where the community wants to be, that is not where any of us want to be, but that is where we are."
Prof Lyons said that due to the limited supply, the HSE had to quickly identify those who would benefit most and have considered clinical, public health and ethical factors. She explained: "The quickest way of doing this and most pragmatic and practical way is to offer vaccination to individuals who had a notification of early infectious syphilis through the National Surveillance system for Infectious diseases from December of last year and July of this year. So that is how we are proceeding at this time."
Prof Lyons said people will be contacted if they are eligible when the rollout of the vaccine begins, and that communities have been very understanding of the situation and shortfall of supply. Prof Lyons added that if anyone thinks they have monkeypox they should contact their local STI service or GP to get advice on where to go for testing.
The HSE has said it is now widening the vaccination process and is implementing the most recent advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Council, which is to vaccinate people at risk before they are exposed to the virus. The vaccine will be offered to gay and bisexual men, other men who have sex with men, as well as others at high risk of unprotected exposure.
Meanwhile, NIAC has recommended that two doses of the smallpox vaccine should be administered 28 days apart to as many high-risk individuals as soon as practicable.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said the symptoms of monkeypox include:
- an itchy rash
- high temperature (38.5 degrees Celsius or higher)
- headache
- muscle aches
- backache
- swollen lymph nodes
- chills
- exhaustion.
For more information and advice visit www.hse.ie.
Read Next:
- Monkeypox declared a 'global emergency' with outbreaks in more than 70 countries
- Government to use smallpox vaccine on people 'at risk' to fight monkeypox outbreak
- Monkeypox Ireland: Expert says risk to community is 'very low' but warns people must be 'vigilant'
- Monkeypox declared global health emergency by World Health Organisation
- Seven key symptoms of Monkeypox to look out for after case confirmed in UK
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