UK to use lower dose of monkeypox vaccine to stretch supply

British health authorities will begin offering eligible people just a fraction of the normal monkeypox vaccine dose to stretch supplies by about five times, in line with similar decisions to extend available doses in Europe and the US.

In a statement on Monday, Britain’s Health Security Agency announced that patients at clinics in Manchester and London would soon get just one fifth of the regular monkeypox vaccine dose as part of ongoing research, citing earlier work suggesting the smaller dose provided as effective an immune response as a full dose.

The European Medicines Agency authorised the move for its 27 members across the continent last week, echoing the decision made by US regulators earlier this month.

“Adopting this tried and tested technique will help to maximise the reach of our remaining stock," said Dr. Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Britain's Health Security Agency. She said the lowered doses would enable health workers to vaccinate “many more thousands of people.”

Last week, British officials said there were early signs of the monkeypox outbreak slowing and case numbers declining. Nearly 3,200 cases have been reported in the UK since May, with 99 per cent of the infections found in men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men. About 70 per cent of cases are in London.

As of last week, UK authorities said more than 35,000 vaccines had been administered primarily to men who have sex with men, their close contacts, and health workers.

Globally, the supply of monkeypox vaccines is extremely limited. There is only one supplier — Denmark's Bavarian Nordic —and most doses have already been bought by the US, Canada, Europe and other rich countries.

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