The City of Helsinki has announced that starting on Tuesday, monkeypox vaccines will be offered free-of-charge to men at high risk of infection.
This risk group includes men who have sex with men and are taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis medicine to prevent HIV infection, or who are in the process of waiting to receive such medication. The vaccine will also be available to those who are infected with HIV or those who have attended events during which they had sex with men — either in Finland or abroad.
"We recommend the vaccine for groups at increased risk of monkeypox infection. We will try to organise the vaccinations as smoothly as possible," Sanna Isosomppi, Chief Physician of Helsinki's Epidemiological Operations, said in a statement
The vaccine is available by appointment at the vaccination point in the Jätkäsaari district and at the Hivpoint in Helsinki's Kalasatama neighbourhood. The vaccine being offered is called Jynneos and requires two separate doses.
According to health officials, those experiencing monkeypox symptoms should not get vaccinated.