Who can get monkeypox vaccine as 3500 doses land in Victoria

Thousands of doses of the monkeypox vaccine have arrived in Victoria, but not everyone is eligible to be vaccinated just yet.

The first few thousand monkeypox vaccines have arrived in Victoria, but health authorities are only administering them to eligible individuals.

Three-and-a-half thousand doses of the third generation Jynneos vaccine will be available for “at-risk groups” in partnership with sexual health clinics and public health units across the state.

On Tuesday morning, Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced the first delivery of vaccines, with more set to come later in the year.

“This vaccine is highly effective and we will work with health services and clinicians to roll it out to Victorians who are most at risk,” Ms Thomas said.

“Initial eligibility for vaccination is limited to priority at-risk groups; however, with more vaccines set to arrive later this year, we will work with the commonwealth to ensure all Victorians who need a vaccination get one.”

Eligible participants are described as anyone considered a high-risk close contact, including lab workers analysing the disease, sexually active gay or bisexual men, and sex workers with high-risk clients.

Doses of Imvanex vaccine used to protect against the monkeypox virus in northern France. Picture: Francois Lo Presti/ AFP

Vaccines will be available from Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Thorne Harbour Health, Northside Clinic, Collins Street Medical Centre and Prahran Market Clinic.

People in regional Victoria will have access to a jab via local public health units.

There have been 22 cases of monkeypox across the state, with seven still active, but people at risk of becoming seriously ill from the disease are encouraged to get the vaccine.

Most Australian cases have been from international travellers; however, two cases have been acquired locally, with one in Victoria.

Monkeypox usually appears as a blistering rash or pimple-like lesion on a persons face, inside their mouth, on their hands and feet or on genitalia.

What monkeypox looks like. Picture: Courtesy of CDC/Getty Images

Other monkeypox symptoms include fever, body aches, headaches, swollen lymph nodes and chills.

It is transferred through skin-to-skin contact, contact with infected surfaces and through respiratory droplets.

Transmission is also only possible through prolonged and more intimate contact with someone with monkeypox.

There have been more than 26,000 cases worldwide, with the US declaring monkeypox a public health emergency.

“Anyone who develops symptoms should immediately seek medical care, wear a mask and call ahead to make sure they can be isolated away from others,” Ms Thomas said.

For further information about monkeypox and vaccination eligibility, visit health.vic.gov.au.