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.
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