England’s mpox vaccination programme is no longer needed and will be wound down in the summer, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced.
Appointments to receive a first dose of the vaccine will remain available for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men at highest risk until 16 June, with bookings for second doses available until the end of July.
The virus, which was formerly known as monkeypox, has seen a sustained reduction in cases across the country from a high of 350 per week in July 2022 to just six new cases in 2023 so far.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director, Public Health Programmes at UKHSA said: “Vaccination is key to reducing the severity of symptoms and preventing further transmission.