Israel ups monkeypox vaccine shipment to 5K after WHO declaration

The original agreed-upon shipment of 2,000 vaccines was more than doubled on Horowitz's request • 105 Israeli men test positive for monkeypox as of Saturday

JULY 23, 2022 19:50

Updated: JULY 24, 2022 15:51

Test tubes labeled "Monkeypox virus positive and negative" are seen in this illustration taken May 23, 2022 (photo credit: REUTERS/DADO RUVIC) — Test tubes labeled "Monkeypox virus positive and negative" are seen in this illustration taken May 23, 2022

(photo credit: REUTERS/DADO RUVIC)

Some 5,000 Bavarian Nordic monkeypox vaccines are set to arrive in Israel this week, the Health Ministry announced on Saturday, after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global health emergency.

Taking "the necessary steps" to curb monkeypox

The original agreed-upon shipment of 2,000 vaccines was more than doubled after Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz spoke with Bavarian Nordic CEO Paul Chaplin on Saturday, the former wrote on Twitter.

"I spoke with [Chaplin], who complied with my request to increase the number of vaccine doses set to arrive in Israel this week," the health minister said.

Israel is taking all the necessary steps to protect its citizens from monkeypox, Horowitz added. Those measures include "purchasing vaccines, sharing information to prevent infection and setting up testing labs."

In addition, a further 5,000 vaccines are scheduled to arrive in Israel at a later date, the ministry announced.

אבעבועות הקוף - אנחנו נוקטים בכל הצעדים: רכש חיסונים, הסברה למניעת הדבקה, פריסת מעבדות לבדיקות, הנחיות לקופות החולים וכמובן טיפול למי שזקוק. שוחחתי עם מנכ״ל חברת החיסונים (שבמחסור גדול בעולם), והוא נענה לבקשתי להגדיל משמעותית את מספר המנות שיגיעו לישראל כבר השבוע. רק בריאות.
— Nitzan Horowitz ניצן הורוביץ (@NitzanHorowitz) July 23, 2022

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, Health Ministry Director-General Professor Nachman Ash and Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of public health services at the Health Ministry attend a press conference about the Polio vaccine in Tel Aviv, on April 26, 2022 (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)

105 Israeli men tested positive for monkeypox as of Saturday, the Health Ministry said.

The ministry called on those who are experiencing the relevant symptoms, or those who came in contact with confirmed cases, to consult a medical physician and get tested for the virus.