Monkeypox vaccine appointments ran out within hours of opening to eligible Oldhamers in the evening of Tuesday, August 23.

The appointments were announced on social media at just after 5pm – but all were gone by 8pm.

This is despite the fact that up to five times as many will be able to get the jab, as clinicians have been approved to give people 0.1ml dose of the smallpox Jyneeos vaccine, instead of the 0.5ml dose that is typically given.

The approach, known as ‘fractional dosing’, has been commonly used in other worldwide outbreaks when vaccine supplies are constrained and is considered safe.

The strategy is being undertaken in Manchester and London and has already been approved in the USA and by the European Medicines Agency Emergency Task Force.

Following the change, eligible Greater Manchester residents were able to book vaccinations at two clinics on Thursday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 30, after some vaccines were held back at previous clinics in the hope the new approach would be approved.

Vaccines will be available on both days between 8.30am and 6pm at the Northern Sexual Health Service.

The clinic is not a walk-in, and appointments must have been booked in advance.

Monkeypox rates remain low throughout Greater Manchester when compared to some other parts of the country, such as London.

Between one and four cases have been detected in the boroughs of Oldham, Tameside, Stockport, Wigan, and Bolton.

Trafford has 11 cases detected, up from 10 last week. Manchester has 58, up from 56. Salford has 33, up from 31.

Bury has eight cases, up from seven last week.

Nationwide, 3,191 cases have been detected in England, with just under 70 per cent being detected in London.

The eligibility requirements

The vaccine will be available to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, as well as trans women and non-binary people, at the highest risk of getting monkeypox.

For example, if people have multiple partners, participate in group sex or attend ‘sex on premises’ venues, people with a recent bacterial sexually transmitted infection and those eligible for PrEP (the preventative drug for HIV transmission), people who have had recent close contact with someone infected with monkeypox, and healthcare workers caring for and due to start caring for a patient with the virus.

The Oldham Times: The site of the walk-inThe site of the walk-in

People will be eligible if they fit these requirements and have previously used one of the following providers in Greater Manchester.

Unlike some previous walk-ins, those who last used the service more than 12 months ago won’t be ineligible.

Sexual health services

HCRG Care Group

  • Oldham Integrated Care Centre
  • Glodwick Primary Care Centre
  • Royton Health and Wellbeing Centre
  • Failsworth Primary Care Centre (all Oldham)
  • Nye Bevan House
  • Croft Shifa Health Centre
  • Middleton Health Centre
  • Heywood Clinic (all Rochdale)
  • Bury Townside Primary Care Centre
  • Radcliffe Primary Care Centre

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust

  • Bolton Centre for Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Shine Sexual Health Service (Salford)

Locala

  • The Choices Centre (Stockport)
  • The Orange Rooms (Tameside)

The Northern

  • Hathersage Centre
  • North Manchester General Hospital
  • Withington Community Hospital
  • Trafford Sexual Health Service (Trafford and Urmston clinics)

Also:

  • Spectrum Community Health CIC (Wigan)

General Practice (GPs)

  • The Docs, Manchester

Christine Khiroya, nurse consultant with lead responsibility for screening and immunisation at NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care said: “We’re really pleased that we can run a further two clinics, using our existing stock, to support people to get vaccinated against monkeypox and allow more people to be vaccinated sooner by making greater use of the limited supplies available.

“We’ve had a great response to clinics previously offered across Greater Manchester, with over 2,000 vaccinations to protect against monkeypox now given.

“I know people are keen to receive the vaccine as soon as possible, and we hope people will come forward and book an appointment.  We are expecting to vaccinate around 200 people, split across the two days.”

“Please remember, that as with any vaccine, it won’t give 100% protection, and won’t be effective straight away, so stay alert for symptoms and call NHS 111 or a local sexual health clinic if you have signs of monkeypox, even if it’s just one spot.”

How monkeypox is transmitted

Any close physical contact with monkeypox blisters or scabs (including during sexual contact, kissing, cuddling, or holding hands).

Touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with monkeypox.

The coughs or sneezes of a person with monkeypox when they're close to you.

Monkeypox signs and symptoms

According to the NHS, it can take between five and 21 days for symptoms to appear after you first get infected with monkeypox.

Symptoms include:

a high temperature

a headache

muscle aches

backache

swollen glands

shivering (chills)

exhaustion

joint pain

A rash, which is sometimes confused with chickenpox, usually appears one to five days after the first symptoms, often beginning on the face before spreading to other parts of the body. This can include the mouth, genitals, and anus.

What to do if you think you might have it or could get it

Those who think they have monkeypox or have come into contact with someone who has monkeypox should isolate and can find information on Oldham’s Sexual Health Hub or call the Sexual Health Hub on 0300 303 8565. Information is also available on the NHS website.

The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that there will be no further doses delivered until late in September, so all vaccines are being given from existing stock.