15,000 additional monkeypox vaccines have been purchased to support Ireland's ongoing vaccination programme.
The Minister for Health has said that the State, through the HSE, "reached a deal with Bavarian Nordic for the supply of 15,000 monkeypox vaccines".
Stephen Donnelly also said that the procurement provides a significant boost to the immunisation programme currently underway amid a global shortage of vaccine supply.
5,000 vaccines will be delivered this year and the remaining 10,000 doses are due to be delivered next year.
There have been 200 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Ireland since May and the HSE estimates that between 6,000 and 13,000 people at heightened risk may benefit from primary prevention vaccination.
The HSE is vaccinating through designated centres across the country.
The intradermal method of vaccination, recently approved, allows for a greater number of doses to be extracted from a single vaccine vial, meaning a greater number of people are being offered a vaccine than initially anticipated.
The Department of Health said demand for the vaccine has been high and all currently available vaccine appointments have been booked but a significant number of additional appointments will open for booking next month.
Minister Donnelly encouraged people who have not had the opportunity, "to book an appointment in the coming weeks when they become available".
