An additional 1400 doses of the World Health Organization (WHO) approved “mpox” vaccines have been received by the Ministry of Health.

The second tranche completes the receipt of two thousand, eight hundred (2,800) doses of the two-dose “mpox” vaccines and would allow for the vaccination of 1400 people, as per the WHO interim guidelines.

The MoH also stated that in keeping with the WHO interim guidelines dated November 16th, 2022 found at https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/WHO-MPX-Immunization, only individuals who meet the criteria, as listed below, would be eligible:-

• individuals who are close contacts of confirmed positive cases only;
• individuals within the above category who are eighteen (18) years and older, but NOT pregnant and/or breastfeeding; and
• as a post exposure preventative vaccination (PEPV) programme.

The County Medical Officers of Health (CMOHs) will actively reach out to persons who are deemed contacts to offer vaccinations to these individuals as a mass vaccination campaign would not be utilised at this time.