Health Authority finally makes Monkeypox vaccine available to LGBT community

Extended risk group
The news comes on the same day as Statens Serum Institut (SSI) extended the risk group for the disease over fears that a large number of monkeypox cases are going unreported.

So far, 123 cases have been reported in Denmark, but SSI believes that the actual number of infections is “significantly higher”.

“We have a clear suspicion that we are not catching all cases,” Tyra Grove Krause, SSI chief of epidemiology and prevention of infectious diseases, told TV2 News.

The previous risk assessment only had men who have sex with men at a moderate risk level, but the new assessment also has groups with a high number of sexual contacts who are at moderate risk.

Krause said smallpox is a relatively mild disease in its current form and should not cause panic.

“Monkey pox is far less contagious than COVID-19, and it’s much easier to break its chains of infection,” she said.

By the numbers
So far, the statistics on monkeypox cases in Denmark are as follows:

– The average age of the infected is 38 years, ranging from 18-61 years.

– all cases so far concern men who have sex with men. 28 percent are HIV positive and 41 percent are on HIV prevention medication.

– 5-10 people are believed to have been hospitalized for painkillers against monkeypox, while no deaths have been recorded.

– No close contacts have been infected without sexual contact.

– No cases among healthcare workers, but SSI says it is likely to happen.

– SSI has 2,700 doses of the Imvanex vaccine on hand and is working to obtain another 10,000 doses.

Source: The Nordic Page