The federal government has secured additional supplies of vaccines that protect people from monkeypox.
Key points:
- There are two types of smallpox vaccines used to protect against smallpox, ACAM2000 and JYNNEOS.
- Australia has a stock of ACAM2000 but additional supplies of preferred option JYNNEOS have been secured
- People with chicken pox should be isolated until their sores are completely clear, up to 21 days
More than 40 cases have been reported across the country and last month Australia’s chief medical officer declared the virus a “communicable disease incident of national significance”.
The federal health department says monkeypox (also known as MPX) is usually mild and people usually recover within a few weeks.
However, some people can become seriously ill, especially if they are immunocompromised.
Transmission occurs after close contact with wounds or bodily fluids of an infected person, and so far most cases have occurred among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
Symptoms include a rash, which usually starts on the face and spreads to areas such as the hands, feet and chest.
Some people have reported rashes in the genital areas, as well as flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches and joint pains.
Prevention and treatment of monkey pox
People who contract monkey pox must isolate themselves until their sores clear up completely, which can be up to 21 days.
There are two types of smallpox vaccine that can be used to protect against MPX in Australia, and although not recommended for everyone, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ATAGI) has listed five key groups that are eligible, included
- Anyone considered at high risk to have been in contact with monkeypox in the past 14 days, such as healthcare workers, laboratory personnel working with smallpox or monkeypox virus.
- Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men who have a lot of sex or live with HIV
- Sex workers, especially those whose clients are in high-risk categories
- Anyone in the above categories who plans to travel to a country where there is a major outbreak
- Immunization providers administering the ACAM2000 smallpox vaccine
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Australia has a stockpile of ACAM2000, which can be used before or after exposure to monkeypox.
Known as a second-generation vaccine, it cannot be used in severely immunocompromised people and those with active eczema or pregnant women.
Unlike a regular vaccine, people getting the jab must take extra precautions and cover the injection site until the scab falls off.
There are also rare but serious side effects associated with the single-dose vaccine, and healthcare workers need specialized training to administer it.
There is an alternative option known as JYNNEOS, which is a third-generation vaccine and limited supplies have been guaranteed by both federal and state governments.
It is the vaccine of choice because it has fewer potential adverse events and is easier to administer.
Health Minister Mark Butler will announce more details on Thursday. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Health Minister Mark Butler has confirmed that the government has now secured additional doses.
“We have secured the supply of new third-generation vaccines,” he said in a statement.
The minister is expected to give more details today about the doses and when they will arrive.
He insisted on Wednesday that the government and the health department had been closely monitoring the development of the situation.
“We’ve been working very hard with the main providers in this area, especially groups like FAO, the Federation of AIDS Organisations,” he said on Wednesday.
“Physicians in this area and many others who have a particular interest in the Monkeypox outbreak around the world.
“Health directors have been in regular discussion about our response.”
Space for play or pause, M for mute, left and right arrows for search, up and down arrows for volume.Clock Duration: 14 minutes 59 seconds14m What vaccines are available for Monkeypox?