People most at risk from monkeypox in NSW will have access to the first 5500 vaccine doses from Monday, as sexual health and infectious disease experts warn Australia’s outbreak won’t slow down until 75,000 people get their first shots.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the state’s targeted monkeypox vaccination rollout would prioritise gay and bisexual men who have sex with men who are homeless, sex workers or drug-affected, as well as HIV-positive and immune-suppressed people and close contacts of cases.
The NSW monkeypox vaccine rollout gets under way on Monday.Credit: AP
Also prioritised in the vaccine rollout will be a small number of men who have sex with men planning to travel to monkeypox hotspots in the UK, Europe or North America before October 3, Chant said.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced on Thursday Australia had procured 450,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine from manufacturer Bavarian Nordic.
The first 22,000 doses are expected to arrive by the end of the week, of which 5500 will come to NSW. Another 30,000 doses are expected to arrive in NSW at the end of September and 70,000 doses in 2023, Chant said.
The two-dose vaccine is designed to prevent the transmission of the monkeypox virus and can also be used as a post-exposure treatment.
Chant said doctors would identify men who have sex with men among their patients who would be most vulnerable if monkeypox were to become endemic, and offer them the vaccine as the initial batches become available.
NSW Health would release further details in the coming days about how high-risk people can register interest in receiving the vaccine, she said.
“There will also be an avenue for men who have sex with men going overseas to high-risk areas and engaging in high-risk activities … we are working through those details with [health organisation] ACON at this time,” Chant said.
But the vaccine was no silver bullet against monkeypox, she said.
“It does not provide complete protection from the virus, so we have been working with its community partners such as ACON, sexual health, infectious diseases services and doctors who have a special interest in HIV and sexual health to communicate the risks of monkeypox and promote prevention and support the vaccine rollout,” Chant said.
“We urge people to look out for symptoms, especially those who have recently travelled overseas in UK, Europe and North America.”
More than 26,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported globally, with the vast majority of patients in countries that have not previously dealt with the virus.
Australia has detected 58 cases of monkeypox nationally, including 33 in NSW. All but two of the 58 cases have been among travellers returning from overseas.
But ACON acting CEO Karen Price said case numbers in Australia were extremely likely to increase.
“That’s why access to this vaccine is imperative – if we can reach people most at risk of contracting [monkeypox], we can help safeguard the health and wellbeing of vulnerable community members and prevent an outbreak of monkeypox in NSW and Australia,” Price said.
Dr Nick Medland, president of Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM) and Kirby Institute researcher, said the outbreak would begin to slow after 75,000 members of the affected communities had received their first dose of the vaccine, and the virus may not be eliminated until 250,000 doses had been administered.
“We’re working closely with affected communities to ensure the health system is ready to deliver a safe and equitable vaccine rollout,” Medland said. “We know from COVID-19 and from HIV that our responses to infectious diseases are only effective when clinicians work hand-in-hand with the people most affected,” he said.
Advice for people returning from overseas monkeypox hotspots
Men who have sex with men, who are returning from the UK, Europe, and North America, particularly those who have attended dance parties, sex parties or saunas should monitor for signs or symptoms of monkeypox.
Symptoms of concern include:
- headache
- fever
- chills
- sore throat
- muscle and bodyaches
- fatigue
- rash
- swollen lymph nodes
Symptoms will usually develop up to two weeks from exposure but can take up to three weeks.
Limit sexual partners for the period following your return and maintain a list of people you have sexual contact with. NSW Health can alert those people to minimise the spread.
If you are advised that you are a close contact, isolate immediately and call your GP or sexual health clinic.
If you have questions about monkeypox contact NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said on Thursday the virus could affect anyone, including immunocompromised people, children and pregnant women.
“If it gets into those populations it can be quite severe, so that’s why we’re taking the steps we’re taking, and the vaccines will really help with that,” Kelly said.
He said monkeypox generally does not cause severe disease, though in recent days Brazil, Spain and India each reported one death – the first monkeypox deaths outside of endemic countries in Central and West Africa.
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