Guidance

Smallpox and mpox: the green book, chapter 29

Smallpox and mpox immunisation information for public health professionals.

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Smallpox and mpox: the green book, chapter 29

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Details

In December 1979, the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication declared the world free of smallpox and this declaration was ratified by the World Health Assembly in May 1980.

Since May 2022, cases of mpox have been reported in multiple countries that have not had endemic monkeypox virus (MPXV) in animal or human populations, including countries in Europe, North America and Australasia.

Updates to this page

Published 20 March 2013
Last updated 24 December 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated epidemiology following clade I cases in UK and clarification of advice in the event of a failed intradermal administration.

  2. Major update to include information on recent increase in clade I MPXV, new information on vaccine effectiveness and advice on outbreak response.

  3. Updated to include information on prioritising second doses.

  4. Added the option to use the deltoid area for intradermal administration of the vaccine.

  5. Corrected minor error in table.

  6. Updated to include information on intradermal vaccination and further clarification on the prioritisation during supply constraints.

  7. Revised to include advice on deferral of vaccination in recent cases, information on using IM administration, and change to definition of vulnerable children.

  8. Revised to include information on the new smallpox (MVA) vaccine and the response to cases of monkeypox.

  9. First published.

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