The outbreak of mpox was last week classified as a global health emergency by the World Health Organization, WHO. Shortly after, it became known that Sweden had its first case of the new infectious virus variant, mpox clade 1.
This has led to a large increase in interest in getting vaccinated, according to several regions that SVT has been in contact with.
– The clinic where we vaccinate right now is fully booked until the middle/end of October. We receive many vaccine requests from different people, but when it comes to trips abroad, few are eligible for vaccination. For the people who are going to visit family or work in areas with a large spread of infection, an individual assessment takes place, answers Hedvig Elander, press officer at Region Stockholm.
Many people are worried about vaccines
The Public Health Agency recommends certain groups to get vaccinated. This applies, among other things, to men and trans people who have sex with men, as well as some of the people who are going to travel to areas where the spread of infection is high. Several regions state that many worried people get in touch and want to get vaccinated, despite the fact that they do not belong to any group recommended for vaccination.
– Then we need to talk about the concerns. We try to give them the knowledge to understand that they do not belong to any risk group and therefore do not need vaccines. With knowledge, the worry usually decreases, says Johan Lundin, nurse at the infection clinic at the University Hospital.
No new pandemic
State epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén can understand that people may feel fear of a new pandemic and that they therefore want to get vaccinated even though they do not belong to any risk group. But according to him, there is no need to worry.
– Mpox is not a virus that will cause the type of pandemic, like covid 19. We have known about this disease for many years. We know how to deal with it and there are vaccines, says Magnus Gisslén.
The Public Health Agency’s latest recommendations for vaccines against mpox include specific groups that must travel to places where mpox is spread. Read more about it here.