UK to use lower dose of monkeypox vaccine to stretch supply 

Patients in two cities will soon receive a fifth of the standard dose of the vaccination since research indicates that a lesser dose induces an immunological response just as potent as a full dose.

Since May, there have been nearly 3,200 instances reported in the UK, with men who identify as gay, bisexual, or who have sex with other men accounting for 99 percent of infections.

To stretch supplies by nearly five times, British health authorities will start giving eligible individuals only a small portion of the standard dose of the monkeypox vaccine. This decision is in line with previous ones made in Europe and the US to increase the number of doses that are available.

In a statement on Monday, the British Health Security Agency said that as part of ongoing research, patients at clinics in Manchester and London would soon receive only one-fifth of the usual dose of the monkeypox vaccine. The agency cited earlier work suggesting that the smaller dose provided the same immune response as a full dose.

Similar to the decision reached by US authorities earlier this month, the European Medicines Agency this week approved the move for its 27 members throughout the continent.

According to Dr. Mary Ramsay, director of immunisation at the British Health Security Agency, "adopting this tried and proved technique will help to maximise the reach of our remaining stock." She said that the reduced doses will allow medical professionals to immunise "many more thousands of people."

British officials stated last week that there are preliminary indications the monkeypox outbreak is slowing and that the number of cases is decreasing. Since May, there have been nearly 3,200 instances reported in the UK, with men who identify as gay, bisexual, or who have sex with other men accounting for 99 percent of infections. London is where about 70% of instances are.

The majority of the 35,000 vaccines, according to UK officials as of last week, were given to men who have intercourse with other men, their close connections, and medical professionals.

There is a very little global supply of monkeypox vaccinations. There is only one supplier, Denmark's Bavarian Nordic, and the US, Canada, Europe, and other wealthy nations have already purchased the majority of the dosages.

For this year, Bavarian Nordic predicted that it might produce roughly 30 million doses. Africa, which has recorded more than 70 probable deaths, the greatest number worldwide, has not yet received any monkeypox vaccines.

More than 41,000 cases of monkeypox have surfaced to this point in 94 different nations. In order to curb the spread of the disease, the World Health Organization and other health organisations have pushed governments to enhance their monkeypox surveillance and testing. They do not, however, suggest mass immunisation.

Men at high risk for the condition are advised by the WHO to briefly think about lowering their number of sex partners or to abstain from group or anonymous sex.