Our Trust part of national mpox vaccine trial
23 August 2022
Eligible patients will be offered smaller but equally effective doses of the vaccine, stretching existing supplies to protect more people in our local communities.
We are one of three NHS sites to begin a pilot offering eligible patients smaller but equally effective doses of the vaccine used for the UK’s mpox outbreak, enabling us to stretch existing supplies and protect more people.
This safe, clinically-approved method, known as ‘fractional dosing’, has been commonly used in other global outbreaks when vaccine supplies are limited.
Fractional dosing allows us to maximise the number of doses administered without compromising protection. Clinical studies have shown that it provides a nearly identical immune response in patients.
Under this approach, eligible individuals aged 18 and over will be offered a 0.1ml dose of the smallpox Jynneos vaccine, instead of the standard 0.5ml dose. This could potentially increase the number of people who can be vaccinated by up to five times.
Fractional dosing has recently been authorised in the US by the Food and Drug Administration for its mpox response. The European Medicines Agency Emergency Task Force has also approved this method.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), after a detailed review of the evidence alongside the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), is now collaborating with NHS England to test the feasibility of this approach at pilot clinics within Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, and Locala Health and Wellbeing in Greater Manchester.
Our Trust will contact eligible individuals to invite them to receive the vaccine.