Mong Kok Mpox jab center open today

A designated monkeypox (Mpox) vaccination centre in Mong Kok begins operation today (DotDotNews) for high-risk groups to receive vaccination by appointment, the Department of Health's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has announced.

The new vaccination centre situated at 2/F, CHP building, 147C Argyle Street, Mong Kok, will operate from 9am to 8pm from Monday to Friday, except public holidays.

Individuals belonging to the high-risk target groups can make a booking from today by email or call 2547 1900 during office hours.

The CHP noted that there has been a recent upsurge of confirmed Mpox cases recorded in Hong Kong involving men who have conducted high-risk sexual practices with men.

A total of 16 Mpox cases have been recorded in Hong Kong so far involving 16 men aged 25 to 59, eight of which were recorded this month.

The CHP added that four out of the eight men did not have a travel history and initial investigations showed that the cases are local infections with unknown sources, reflecting that Mpox virus transmission might have occurred among local high-risk groups. The possibility of an outbreak cannot be ruled out.

Among the 16 confirmed cases, 11 of the patients did not receive Mpox vaccination, while another two did not complete the two-dose course.

The CHP stressed that vaccination is an effective way to prevent Mpox. It strongly urged high-risk individuals to receive the jab early and seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience Mpox symptoms.

Apart from the new vaccination centre, high-risk target groups can receive an Mpox walk-in vaccination at all of the department's Social Hygiene Service Clinics.

Meanwhile, the department's Integrated Treatment Centre in Kowloon Bay, and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital will continue to provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.

The CHP added that MPox is generally transmitted through direct and intimate sexual contact with infectious lesions of a symptomatic patient, and the transmission risk through casual social contact is extremely low. It advised people not to conduct high-risk sexual practices.