Netherlands begins vaccination against monkeypox

By Selman Aksunger

AMSTERDAM (AA) – The Netherlands has begun vaccination against monkeypox for individuals in the risk group, health authorities said on Monday.

The Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) said that the Municipal Health Service of Amsterdam and the Hague’s Municipal Health Service have started vaccination against monkeypox.

“Vaccination is only possible if you have received a personal invitation from the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs) or the HIV treatment center,” the RIVM said in a statement.

It said a total of 50 people will be vaccinated in the center of Amsterdam on the first day and 100 people will be vaccinated every day. The vast majority of the 32,000 people invited for the vaccine were men in same-sex relationships and transgender individuals.

The vaccine will be administered in two doses, according to the institute, and the second dose will be administered four weeks after the first jab.

There are a total of 70,000 Imvanex vaccines which are developed by the Danish Bavarian Nordic company and approved by the European Medicines Agency.

According to the data released by the RIVM on July 21, the virus was detected in 712 people in the Netherlands.

The World Health Organization on Saturday declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency, its highest alert level for a disease.

Monkeypox can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, skin lesions, or internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects, according to the WHO.

People at potentially heightened risk of infection include healthcare workers, commercial sex workers, household members, and other close contacts of active cases, such as sexual partners, said the global health body.

Other groups at the highest risk of severe disease from monkeypox include pregnant women, young children, and individuals who are immunocompromised. These groups need to be especially protected to prevent infection.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar