Lithuania has received its first shipment of 160 doses of the EU-approved mpox vaccine Imvanex, marking a shift from the previously used Jynneos vaccine after its national supply expired in late 2025.
The doses, confirmed by the National Public Health Centre, are now available and will be administered exclusively at Vilnius City Polyclinic for preventive vaccination. Eligible recipients include men over 18 who have sex with men, a group identified as being at higher risk based on transmission patterns of the virus.
Those covered by Lithuania’s compulsory health insurance will receive the vaccine free of charge at the polyclinic, while uninsured individuals must pay for the administration fee, though the vaccine itself remains provided at no cost. Health officials emphasized that people residing outside Vilnius who wish to be vaccinated should travel to the capital for the shot.
Imvanex, produced by Bavarian Nordic, received EU authorization and is being deployed to replace Jynneos, which had been used under emergency authorization since 2022 due to limited Imvanex availability across Europe. Lithuania used Jynneos domestically until autumn 2025, after which its stock expired and was not renewed.
Vaccination data shows a steady increase in prior use: 14 doses administered in 2022 (5 first doses, 9 second), 68 in 2023 (38 first, 30 second), and 83 in 2024 (43 first, 40 second). These figures reflect ongoing, though limited, immunization efforts among at-risk populations before the switch to Imvanex.
The rollout coincides with Lithuania’s first confirmed mpox case of 2026, identified in a man aged 30–40 from Vilnius County who had recently traveled abroad. Health officials believe the infection was likely acquired during travel to another European country, not Africa, where the virus is endemic.
This case is the seventh recorded in Lithuania since 2022, following five cases in 2022, one in 2024, and now this 2026 infection. Globally, mpox cases surged in 2022, prompting renewed vaccination campaigns in Europe.
Transmission occurs primarily through close physical contact, including sexual activity, with symptoms often beginning like flu — fever, headache, muscle aches — followed by swollen lymph nodes and a distinctive rash that progresses from papules to pustules. The virus can also spread via contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing, though sustained close contact is required.
Experts stress that while mpox does not spread easily, individuals in high-risk groups should consider vaccination and practice preventive measures, including avoiding close contact with symptomatic individuals and maintaining good personal hygiene.
For travelers, health authorities recommend consulting a doctor before international trips to assess potential exposure risks, particularly in regions where mpox is circulating, and to take precautions regardless of destination.
Who is eligible to receive the Imvanex vaccine in Lithuania?
Men over 18 who have sex with men are eligible for preventive vaccination with Imvanex at Vilnius City Polyclinic, as they are identified as being at higher risk based on transmission patterns.
Is the vaccine free for everyone in Lithuania?
The vaccine itself is provided at no cost, but only those covered by Lithuania’s compulsory health insurance receive the administration free of charge; uninsured individuals must pay for the vaccination service.
Where can people get vaccinated if they live outside Vilnius?
Individuals residing outside Vilnius who wish to be vaccinated must travel to Vilnius City Polyclinic, as it is currently the only site offering preventive Imvanex vaccinations in the country.
How does this new vaccine differ from the one previously used?
Imvanex is the EU-approved version of the Bavarian Nordic vaccine, replacing Jynneos, which had been used under emergency authorization since 2022 after its national supply expired in late 2025.
