Anyone *can* get Mpox, but current data show that gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men with multiple sexual partners are at higher risk of having contact with someone with Mpox.
Keep an eye out for any of the symptoms & let’s keep each other safe.
- Check yourself for Mpox symptoms, like unusual rashes or spots
- Might have symptoms? Stay home & call 111 or a local sexual health clinic
- If you hook up with someone new, get their details.
MPOX vaccine update - 24 July 2025
As a service we have continued to offer MPOX vaccines to those identified as at higher risk of transmission via a dedicated MPOX clinic run from one of our Southampton hubs (Royal South Hants Hospital).
UKHSA have now extended the programme, and we are pleased to announce that we are able to offer opportunistic MPOX vaccination at all of our hub clinics with immediate effect.
If you are eligible or are at an increased risk we encourage you to get vaccinated to help protect yourself and others.
Please speak to the clinician when you call to book an appointment, and we will be happy to discuss with you and offer vaccination if required.
Gonorrhoea vaccine (4CMenB)
In May 2025, NHS England announced it will introduce a Gonorrhoea vaccination programme in England, starting in August 2025.
The vaccine will be offered mainly to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) who are considered at highest risk. People of other genders and sexualities may also be eligible if assessed to be at high risk.
We will be offering this vaccine to eligible patients from mid-August 2025. Ask the clinician when you call to book an appointment and we will be happy to discuss with you.
So, what is this vaccine all about? Here is some further information……
What is the vaccine and how does it work?
The ‘4CMenB’ vaccine (commonly known by the brand name ‘Bexsero’) was developed to protect against Meningitis B. It is part of the routine childhood vaccination programme and has been around for many years. Because the meningitis bacteria comes from the same family as Gonorrhoea, the vaccine also provides some protection against Gonorrhoea.
How effective is the vaccination at stopping gonorrhoea?
Studies have shown that it’s up to 40% effective at protecting against Gonorrhoea. It wasn’t developed specifically for this infection so has a lower effectiveness rate but with less Gonorrhoea circulating among people who have been vaccinated, there will be a lower risk overall of getting the infection.
Why is it being offered now?
A vaccination programme has been approved because rates of Gonorrhoea are increasing nationally, and it is hoped that the vaccination programme will help reduce the number of new infections of Gonorrhoea.
Can anyone get this vaccine?
Those who are eligible for the vaccine have been clearly identified by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). This is because it will be most effective in groups where rates of Gonorrhoea infections are high. We will be offering the vaccination to those most at risk of Gonorrhoea such as some gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
How many doses of the vaccine do you need?
It will be 2 doses with a gap of at least 4 weeks between doses. If you need other vaccines as well, they can be safely given at the same time.
It takes at least 2 weeks from your second dose for your body to produce enough antibodies to give you a good level of protection.
Are there any side effects?
The commonest side effects are similar to what you’d expect for other vaccinations such as pain at the injection site, not feeling well, and a headache.
Where can I find out more about the 4CMenB vaccine?
Why do I have to wait for my smallpox (MVA) vaccination (publishing.service.gov.uk)
The UKHSA, the organisation in England responsible for public health and infectious diseases, has been monitoring the number of cases and the spread of Mpox since it was first detected in the UK. Anyone can get Mpox and although a increasing number of people have been diagnosed with it recently, the risk remains low.
In England, most cases have been seen in gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (MSM). While Mpox is not restricted to this group, it is more common, so it’s particularly important to be aware of symptoms and risks if you are a man who has sex with other men.
Though not an STI, Mpox can spread from person to person through touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash, touching Mpox skin blisters or scabs, or through the coughs or sneezes of a person with the Mpox rash, including during sex.
Common signs of Mpox infection include fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes, and development of a new rash, isolated spots, ulcers or blisters on the skin.
You’re extremely unlikely to have Mpox if you have not been in close contact with someone who has Mpox or has Mpox symptoms and if you have not recently travelled to west or central Africa.
Transmission rates have stabilised but UKHSA continue to encourage eligible people to attend for vaccination to help ensure transmission rates continue to fall. UKHSA have advised that the pre-exposure vaccination programme is the best way to prevent rates increasing again.
We continue to contact people who are a priority for vaccination and continue to work with other services to make sure those who may be eligible know how to get one. However, you do not need to wait to be contacted to access the vaccine, please call to book an appointment if you are eligible.
If you have any genital symptoms of Mpox or have come into close sexual contact with someone who has Mpox you should limit contact with others and contact your local sexual health clinic for advice and to arrange testing.
If you have non genital symptoms, you should contact your GP or NHS 111 for advice