Monkeypox vaccine: Australia in race to get new age jab supplies with US, UK

Australia is in a global race to secure supplies of a new Monkeypox vaccine — but what we have in the national stockpile won’t be enough.

A man receives a dose of the Monkeypox vaccine at the Edison municipal vaccination centre in Paris. Picture: AFP

The Australian Government is desperately competing with the US and UK to obtain supplies of third generation small pox vaccines to combat the Monkeypox outbreak.

Australia currently only has stocks of the old fashioned ACAM2000 vaccine that produces an infectious wound after vaccination.

It is not recommended for use in people who are immunocompromised or who have certain skin conditions.

And because it comes in multidose vials, containing 100 shots, once opened some doses might go to waste.

The government has some stocks of this older vaccine in the national medicines stockpile but it has refused to answer questions about how many doses are available.

A more modern version of the vaccine, called MVA-BN known as Jynneos/Imvanex/Imvamune (Bavarian Nordic), is registered for use in USA, UK and other countries for the prevention of smallpox and monkeypox.

However it is not currently registered or available for use in Australia.

“Australia was actively pursuing supplies of the third-generation vaccine MVA-BN well before the WHO declaration was made, recognising there is limited global supply and high global demand,” Health Minister Mark Butler said.

A box containing the monkeypox vaccine. Picture: Getty Images

Earlier on Thursday Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly declared Monkeypox a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance.

This means the government must develop a national policy to contain infection, spread public messaging about the virus and deployment resources to assist affected areas to contain the spread.

To date there have been 20,311 Monkeypox cases in 71 countries (including Australia) that have not historically reported Monkeypox, Professor Kelly said.

In Australia, there have been 44 cases – the majority of which have been within returned international travellers.

The virus causes a rash and flu-like symptoms that are relatively mild, and in most cases, resolve themselves within two to four weeks without the need for treatment.

A collage of monkeypox rash lesions. Picture: UK Health Security Agency / AFP / UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY

However, there are antiviral medications available to treat people with the virus that can be obtained through state health departments from the national medicines stockpile.

The ACAM2000 vaccine in the national stockpile consists of a live, infectious vaccinia virus and was originally developed to prevent smallpox.

It also works to prevent Monkeypox but it produces a sore on the arms of vaccinated people that allows the vaccina virus to be transmitted to other people who have close contact with the inoculation site.

This means the vaccination site has to be covered for several weeks to prevent infecting others.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends using this shot to prevent cases of the virus in people likely to be exposed to someone with Monkeypox.

In cases where somebody has already been exposed to a person with Monkeypox it is best to use the vaccine within four days of the exposure to the infection, ATAGI said.

“Vaccination between four to 14 days is anticipated to attenuate disease,” ATAGI said.

ACAM2000 vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers who will be providing vaccination to others.

Those who have previously received a smallpox vaccine, likely before the mid 1970’s, are likely to have some residual protection against Monkeypox ATAGI said.

For people who contract Monkeypox antivrials are available through state and territory health departments to treat the virus.

The company that makes the modern MVA-BN vaccine is reported to have fewer than five million doses of the vaccine available with countries around the world competing for access to the limited stock.

A factory that could make more doses has been shut while work is underway to expand the production line.