Eligible recipients include those rendering direct care for mpox cases at NCID
Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced free vaccination for healthcare workers who are at the highest risk of exposure to mpox as part of its measures to manage the disease.
JYNNEOS, a non-replicating vaccine that has been approved in Singapore, will be administered to healthcare workers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) who need to render direct care to mpox patients.
On Aug 14, WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years.
The vaccination drive in Singapore comes as the government amps up its measures for mpox Clade I, a subtype of the disease that causes more severe symptoms and a higher fatality rate.
This is different from the Clade II subtype, which caused the global outbreak that began in 2022. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infections from this type are "generally less severe," with more than 99.9% of people who contracted it surviving.
Both types of the virus can spread through close contact (including intimate contact) with a person infected with mpox, direct contact with contaminated materials, and direct contact with infected animals, the CDC noted.
In Singapore, there have been 14 detected cases of mpox since January 2024, but all are classified under the Clade II virus, The Straits Times reported.
Other measures against mpox Clade I
Meanwhile, MOH said it will also administer jabs to close contacts of confirmed mpox cases.
"Our current supply of JYNNEOS is projected to be sufficient based on the current vaccination strategy. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust our vaccination strategy accordingly, as the mpox situation and vaccine supplies evolve globally," the MOH said.
The ministry has also worked with other departments to establish temperature and visual screening at Changi and Seletar airports for inbound travellers and crew arriving from flights with confirmed cases of mpox Clade I.
"Health advisories have been put in place at air checkpoints, so that travellers can take the necessary personal precautions to avoid being infected. Travellers are strongly advised to adhere to the advisory, especially if they are travelling to and from affected countries," MOH said.
Testing and treatment for mpox
Adults with mpox will be sent to the NCID, while paediatric cases will be conveyed to KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
"Adult-child family dyads will be conveyed to the National University Hospital. Cases will be isolated while pending test results. All cases who test positive for Clade I will continue to be isolated in healthcare facilities until they are no longer infectious, to prevent further exposure to the community," the ministry said.
For close contacts of the confirmed cases, they will be quarantined in a designated government quarantine facility for 21 days, the incubation period observed in Africa.
The government said it is not yet recommending mask-wearing for people who are well, noting that close physical contact is needed to transmit the virus.
"However, should there be evidence of significant respiratory transmission, such as outside of households and in public areas, MOH will consider implementing masking on public transport, and in crowded indoor places," it said.
The ministry has assured that it is ready to respond decisively with its international counterparts should the situation change.
"MOH will continue to monitor new developments and assess the safety, efficacy, and suitability of emerging mpox therapeutics in meeting the needs of our population," it said.
