Monkeypox cases in Ireland rise to 97 as pressure mounts on Donnelly over vaccination programme

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has come under pressure to say when a preventive vaccination programme against monkeypox will start, as the number of Irish cases rose to 97.

The Health Service Executive says it is using limited supplies of smallpox vaccine to respond to cases of monkeypox, and is offering vaccines to close contacts after a risk assessment, as well as to some healthcare workers who may be at risk of exposure through their work.

Last week, Mr Donnelly approved recommendations by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) to provide pre-exposure prophylactic vaccination to those at high risk of infection, including gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) and others at high risk of unprotected exposure.

The HSE, which says supplies of vaccine as “low and limited”, says it is working to review the Niac advice and is putting in place plans to identify those most at risk “and the best way to use our supply of vaccines”.

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“Our aim is to ensure people at risk are offered a vaccine at the earliest opportunity, and that we provide the best public health protection with the supplies available.

“Ireland, along with other EU countries, is actively exploring options to increase our medium- to long-term supply of vaccines.”

The Social Democrats called on the Minister to clarify when the vaccination programme will be rolled out.

Health spokeswoman Róisín Shortall claimed there was a “complete absence” of information about when this is likely to happen.

“The lack of urgency about addressing what the World Health Organisation [WHO] have called a global health emergency is deeply worrying. We have a vaccine that is effective against monkeypox – but communities most at risk have no idea about how they can be inoculated,” she said.

“This confusion is causing a huge amount of concern and frustration. In contrast, France has already administered 42,000 doses of the vaccine, while a dedicated vaccination centre was opened in Paris this week. The UK announced its vaccination programme as far back as June.”

Worldwide, there are now 26,208 confirmed monkeypox cases in 87 countries. The first deaths from the disease in Europe were reported in Spain last week.

Most monkeypox patients experience only fever, body aches, chills and fatigue, but some may develop a rash and lesions on the face and hands that can spread to other parts of the body.

Most people recover within a few weeks. The incubation period of monkeypox is usually six to 13 days, but can range from five to 21 days. The WHO last month declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern.