Mpox vaccination programme update (August 2023)

The mpox vaccination programme, which was due to finish at the end of July 2023, has been extended in London following a small spike in cases during May and June.

Those eligible for the vaccine include gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, who have multiple sexual partners, participate in group sex, or attend sex-on-premises venues. Staff who work in these premises are also eligible. See the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) press release for more information.

People can also self-refer and book their own appointments by using the NHS Find an mpox vaccination site page.

Mpox guidance (August 2022)

If a clinician suspects mpox, they need to follow the mpox pathway to ensure the most appropriate further assessment of their patient. Patients who are clinically well, have not travelled to central or west Africa, have no respiratory symptoms and who are gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men should be signposted to book at their local sexual health clinic. All other suspected cases should be discussed with the local infectious disease team.

To help with the initial management of cases, the UKHSA has produced a useful algorithm.

Please also see the Contact risk assessment form and the Access to vaccination for NHS staff document in Downloads. To better understand the risk assessment, please see the relevant matrix on the GOV.UK website. 

For advice and guidance during this period, the main NCL provider trusts are accepting calls from GPs:

• NMUH: Oncall microbiology SpR available via switchboard (bleep 225)
• RFH: Oncall ID SpR available via switchboard
• UCLH: Oncall virologist available via switchboard
• WH: Oncall microbiologist available via switchboard.

See the Hospital bypass numbers page for trust switchboard numbers.

Antimicrobial prescribing

For information regarding NCL's antimicrobial prescribing (as per NICE guidelines), please see RCGP's Summary of antimicrobial prescribing guidance: managing common infections.