Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the vaccination options available to prevent the spread of monkeypox.

Although it is not specifically licensed for the prevention of monkeypox in Europe, the smallpox vaccine, Imvanex, has been used in the United Kingdom in response to previous incidents. This vaccine has a good safety record. It is made from a smallpox-related virus which cannot replicate and has been demonstrated to be highly effective at preventing infection when administered within four days of exposure and reducing severe illness between four and 14 days of exposure.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published recommendations on the use of vaccination for named close contacts of cases, which is now is underway and wider vaccine eligibility is being kept under review. The UKHSA is working with suppliers to ensure a consistent supply.