Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of offering groups at higher risk of exposure to monkeypox in the UK outbreak a smallpox vaccine immediately upon notification of contact with an infected person.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is currently considering a potential vaccine strategy and the associated procurement options. Vaccines are offered to any named close contacts identified, with eligibility kept under review. Imvanex, a smallpox vaccine, has been recommended for post-exposure prophylaxis against monkeypox by an expert group. As monkeypox is caused by a virus similar to that of smallpox, this vaccine is considered effective in preventing or reducing the severity of monkeypox.

Monkeypox has low transmissibility and is spread from person to person through direct contact, with clothing or linens used by an infected person or potentially by close respiratory contact via coughing or sneezing by an infected individual.