In Thuringia there have only been very few cases of monkeypox. Vaccinations should be carried out by certain specialist medical practices and health authorities.
Erfurt (dpa/th) - According to the Ministry of Health, Thuringia initially has 140 vaccine doses for vaccination against monkeypox. These were assigned to the state by the federal government, said a ministry spokeswoman on request. The federal government has announced that it will distribute further vaccine doses to the federal states in the second half of September. The vaccine doses are distributed to the federal states according to certain criteria and assigned there. In Thuringia, the vaccinations are to be administered in three specialist medical practices for people infected with the AIDS pathogen HIV and in health authorities.
Vaccination is only recommended by the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) for certain risk groups and people who have close physical contact with infected people. Stiko sees an increased risk of infection in men who have same-sex sexual contact with different partners. A common symptom is a painful skin rash, for example in the anal and genital areas, on the trunk, arms and legs. Vaccination is to protect against infection, but also possible as early as possible after an infection.
According to the ministry, a total of six cases of monkeypox have been reported in Thuringia in Jena, Erfurt and the district of Nordhausen (as of August 12). The first case became known in Jena in mid-June. According to the ministry, all of those infected are male.
According to a spokeswoman, the public vaccination recommendation for Thuringia is currently being expanded to include monkeypox. Formally, this then applies with the publication in the Thuringian State Gazette.
