SOME sexual health clinics in England have run out of monkeypox jabs, triggering a major halt to the vaccine programme.
It comes as cases of the infection are continuing to rise in the UK week on week.
The UK Health Security Agency has said today that it has delivered 50,000 doses to clinics and hospitals offering the jabs.
This is "the maximum amount available" at the moment, it added.
Clinics have said they do not expect the UK to receive any more vaccines until September.
This means clinics and hospitals offering the jabs will have to turn away anyone who tries to book a vaccine over the next few weeks.
However, many will still provide vaccines to those who have appointments booked over the next few weeks.
As of 8 August, there are 2,914 confirmed and 103 highly probable monkeypox cases in the UK – 3,017 in total.
Of these, 2,883 are in England, up from 2,730 on 4 August.
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Richard Angell, campaigns director at Terrence Higgins Trust, said that the lack of jabs is "deeply concerning".
"Some people who should already have been prioritised for the vaccine will be forced to wait," he explained.
“The lack of decisive leadership shown to halt the outbreak is telling. Tackling the monkeypox outbreak must finally be prioritised – we need a plan and a Tsar now", he added.
Last week, both politicians and LGBT+ groups demanded the government increase its efforts to help curb the spread.
Vaccines have already been rolled out in some parts, but the group has said this now must become a priority.
In a letter penned to health secretary Steve Barclay, the group said: "We cannot afford to allow monkeypox to become endemic in the UK.
"Luckily, we have the tools required to stop this outbreak and prevent further risk to health now. We ask that you do so urgently.”
Signed by the LGBT+ groups for Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Scottish National Party, along with sexual health charities including the Terrence Higgins Trust, the group said communication on the outbreak is key.
The Terrence Higgins Trust said urgent political action is needed to get hold of the rise in cases.
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