Limited initial stocks of the new third-generation monkeypox virus (MPX) vaccine by Bavarian Nordic have arrived in South Australia.
The Communicable Disease Control Branch (CDCB) is working directly with publicly funded sexual health services and accredited HIV S100 medical practitioner prescribers to ensure vaccines are prioritised to South Australians at highest risk of contracting MPX as outlined by ATAGI.
Nationally 22,000 doses of the vaccine have been received by the Commonwealth Government’s National Medical Stockpile, with an initial distribution of around 900 doses for South Australia.
In Australia there have been 66 cases (confirmed and probable) of MPX, the majority being infections acquired overseas with a small number of local transmission cases documented in Australia. One case has been notified in South Australia, a person who had travelled overseas.
More than 98 per cent of cases reported globally have been among men who have sex with men; however, the mode of transmission means anyone can acquire and transmit MPX regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
More detail on the key risk groups recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) to receive the vaccine can be found here.
