Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, says there’s currently a limited supply of vaccines available in the country to treat Mpox.
Dr. Bisasor McKenzie was speaking at a virtual media briefing on Thursday.
Shaloy Smikle reports.
Up to August 14, there have been 15-thousand-6-hundred confirmed cases of Mpox across the globe.
The disease has so far been detected in Sweden, Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines.
East and central Africa have also reported a rapid spike in cases of Mpox.
More than 500 people have died since the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This sparked the World Health Organization to declare the Mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
On Monday, the Congo announced that it will receive its first vaccine doses from the United States.
Jamaica is now on high alert for a possible re-introduction of Mpox in the country.
Dr. Bisasor McKenzie says Mpox vaccines are in short supply in Jamaica.
Dr. Bisasor McKenzie says Mpox vaccines are recommended for individuals who have been in close contact with confirmed cases.
However, she warned against mass vaccination.
Meanwhile, Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, says the Ministry will analyse the number of Mpox vaccine doses available for reserve and to distribute to countries in need.
Dr. Tufton says there are protocols on the administration of Mpox vaccines to those infected.
Dr. Christopher Tufton, Health and Wellness Minister.
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