Debated in Parliament on 12 Sep 2022.
Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Health whether smallpox vaccination can be made available to individuals at higher risk of catching monkeypox, in addition to those who are exposed to confirmed cases or their specimens, healthcare workers and laboratory personnel.
The Ministry of Health, in consultation with infectious diseases experts, does not currently recommend smallpox vaccination to other individuals as a preventive strategy for monkeypox, as the risks of infection can be managed through other means (such as good personal hygiene, abstaining from sex when symptomatic), and the disease is generally self-limiting, with symptoms usually resolving spontaneously. Hence the potential benefit does not outweigh the small risk of adverse side effects from vaccination.
MOH will continue to monitor the local and global situation and review our public health measures, including whether to extend vaccinations to other groups in addition to the individuals at high-risk, for whom vaccination is already recommended.
PAPERCUTS