Italy has five million vaccine doses for monkeypox - Costa

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 27 - Italy has around five million doses of vaccine effective against monkeypox and is ready for an eventual rise in contagion, Health Undersecretary Andrea Costa said on Friday, while stressing that the disease is very different to COVID-19.
    "The Higher Health Institute (ISS) has said we already have five million doses available so we are ready to proceed if the need should arise," Costa told Rai television.
    "We need to clearly say that we are not faced with an emergency with monkeypox.
    "We are faced with a situation that must be focused on and monitored.
    "The illness is not comparable with COVID and it does not hit the whole population because those who have been vaccinated for smallpox viruses, around 40% of the population, have a protection of around 85%".
    At least nine cases have been identified in Italy in the ongoing outbreak. (ANSA).