PBP’s Murphy calls on HSE to announce date it will publish plan for Monkeypox vaccine

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has today called on the HSE to announce the date by which it will publish a plan for its Monkeypox vaccine programme to provide vaccines to all those who need it.

Over 27,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported worldwide in this outbreak and 101 cases have been reported in Ireland.

Deputy Murphy said: “The HSE has said it will work to implement NIAC’s vaccination recommendations but we still don’t know when the plan for the programme will be published.

“This is a matter of great importance and, as a first step, the HSE urgently needs to state when it will publish its plan.

“The HSE must deliver a plan that provides for a fast vaccine rollout for those most at risk of contracting the monkeypox virus, which are currently gbMSM communities (gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men).”

Deputy Murphy also said that the Minister and the HSE must ensure that representatives of groups most at risk of monkeypox are central to the design of the HSE plan to ensure that it is fully effective.

“People with Monkeypox are required to isolate for a minimum of 21 days but many do not receive financial support during their isolation. The government must ensure that the income supports required are put in place immediately.”

In addition, he said: “Minister Donnelly must ensure that sexual health clinics that were closed when staff were re-assigned into the Covid programme are reopened immediately and funding for sexual health services fully restored as part of the response to the monkeypox outbreak.”