Balanced News: Mpox: 5000 vials of vaccine to be available for at-risk people

Medical practitioners will be able to prescribe an mpox vaccine for eligible at-risk people from 16 January. Although the vaccine has not yet been approved by medicines regulator Medsafe, 5000 vials of the vaccine had been obtained, enough for up to 20,000 people. Associate Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall said in statement on Monday the vaccine may be prescribed by a medical practitioner after a consultation, and provided in line with section 29 of the Medicines Act.