An mpox update

To assess the current state of mpox in Ireland, Dr Cathal Ó Broin, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, is on hand to answer some important questions.

Q: What’s the current situation with mpox in Ireland?

A: There has been a slight increase in mpox cases in recent months. While case numbers remain low, it’s a reminder that mpox is still circulating. There are two clades of mpox, this basically means there are two different types or strains of the virus. The cases we have seen are mainly linked to clade IIb, the strain that affected the community during the 2022/23 outbreak. Cases of the type of mpox that may be more serious (called clade I mpox) are spreading in certain parts of Africa but are rarely seen outside of Africa. There has been one case of clade I mpox detected in Ireland to date. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others from mpox.

Q: What’s the latest on mpox vaccines in Ireland?

A: Mpox vaccines are now more widely available across Ireland. Vaccines are now available at select sexual health clinics nationwide, which is a great step forward. The vaccine is recommended for some people who may be more likely to be exposed to mpox, such as gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men (gbMSM), sex workers, and some healthcare workers.

Q: Where is the vaccine available?

A: The vaccines are available at select public STI clinics across Ireland. If you’re attending a public sexual health or PrEP clinic, ask if the vaccine is available there. You can find your nearest sexual health clinic at sexualwellbeing.ie/sticlinics.

You can also book vaccine appointments at: St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin 4  Booking is required: Call 01 2215525 or email mpoxvaccines@svhg.ie The Mater Hospital, Dublin 7

Booking is required: Email mpxvax@mater.ie

Q: How do I access the vaccine outside of Dublin?

  A: If you’re outside Dublin, your first step should be to contact your nearest public STI clinic. You can find your local clinic at sexualwellbeing.ie/sticlinics. If your local clinic isn’t offering the vaccine yet, you may need to travel.

Q: What do people need to know about the vaccine? 

A: Here’s what’s important:

• Those who have had a previous smallpox vaccine only require one dose of the mpox vaccine to be fully vaccinated.

• For those who have not had a previous smallpox vaccine, two doses of the mpox vaccine are essential. If you have only had one mpox vaccine, you will not have full protection, so book your second dose as soon as possible.

• If you’ve already had mpox infection or if you’re fully vaccinated with both doses, you’re considered to have the best available protection against severe illness from both clade I and clade IIb.

• Booster vaccination is not currently recommended.

Q: Why is it important to get vaccinated? 

A: Mpox disproportionately affected gbMSM during the 2022/23 outbreak. Vaccination is our best defence, not only for protecting ourselves but also for reducing the risk of another outbreak. The mpox vaccine is currently available to those in at-risk groups. If you are offered an mpox vaccine, you should take the opportunity to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible to give yourself the best available protection against mpox.

Q: What research is currently ongoing about mpox? 

A: We are excited that Irish research on mpox is being presented at CROI, one of the world’s largest infection/HIV conferences. Ireland is at the cutting edge of research so thank you to the community for contributing!

One of the key studies underway in Ireland is the Mpox-Vax: Vaccination to Prevent Mpox Infection (Mpox-Vax) study. This trial is investigating how the immune system responds to the mpox vaccine over time, and is currently enrolling participants at hospitals in Dublin, Galway, and soon in Cork. For those interested in joining or learning more, search MPOX-VAX Study on ucd.ie.

Dr Cathal Ó Broin is a Consultant in Infectious Diseases at St. Vincent’s University Hospital and sits on the National Immunisation Advisory Committee for mpox, as well as the Mpox Incident Management Team for the HSE. For more information about mpox and its vaccine, visit man2man.ie/mpox.