Monkeypox (mpox)

NSW Health began vaccinating high-risk groups against mpox in August 2022. In October 2022, up to 25,000 doses will arrive in NSW. Up to 70,000 doses are expected to arrive in 2023. This will allow more people in NSW to be vaccinated against mpox.

Vaccine eligibility in NSW has been expanded to include gay and bisexual men (cis and trans) with multiple or casual sexual partners, anyone who has sex with these men, including women (cis and trans), and non-binary people. NSW Health is working closely with partner agencies such as NSW Sexual Health Infolink (SHIL) and ACON on the vaccine rollout.

Mpox vaccines are free in NSW and you can be vaccinated without a Medicare card.

Referring for access to vaccination

Refer potentially eligible people to to book an appointment through the NSW Health online booking system. The new booking system gives people who need the vaccine more choice over where, and when, they receive the vaccine.

Check the NSW Health mpox vaccine page for the latest information on the vaccine rollout in NSW

ACT Health has secured a small initial supply of the JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine. These vaccines will be prioritised for individuals who meet the initial priority criteria. As more doses become available over the coming months, the priority groups for the vaccine will be expanded.

The priority criteria for the initial vaccine supply in the ACT are:

• • People who have close and intimate contact with multiple partners (this can include attendance at sex parties, saunas and sex-on-premises venues)

  AND

  • Identify as a:
    • Sex worker with clients who are gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) OR
    • GBMSM living with HIV and who have a CD4 count < 500
    • GBMSM with barriers to accessing early care and support if they were exposed to monkeypox. This may include individuals who:
      • Are homeless or have unstable housing/accommodation arrangements
      • Have drug use or mental health concerns that impact on their ability to access care

Vaccination site and availability

Canberra Sexual Health Centre (CSHC) will be the ACT’s initial vaccination site.

Referring for access to vaccination

ACT General Practitioners and community service providers can refer ACT residents (and NSW residents with established links to ACT healthcare providers) who meet vaccination priority criteria to CSHC for vaccine by using the mpox vaccine referral form.

For further details about JYNNEOS® mpox vaccine in the ACT please refer to the Chief Health Officer’s letter to clinicians and community service providers (12 August 2022).

Queensland Health currently has limited supplies of mpox vaccine available and vaccine is being prioritised to support outbreak management. Work is underway to ensure those who are at the highest risk are offered vaccination first.

Eligibility criteria includes:

• Gay, bisexual or a man who has sex with men AND
  • Living with HIV or
  • Taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or
  • Someone who has been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection in the last 3 months or
  • Someone who has a recent history of multiple sexual partners or attending sex on premises venues or
  • Planning travel to a country experiencing a significant outbreak in the next 3 months
• A sex worker whose clients include gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men

Referring for access to vaccination

QLD mpox Vaccination Expression of Interest Form

Limited supplies of mpox vaccine are available in South Australia for those that meet the current eligibility criteria:

1. vaccination for close contacts of mpox cases (i.e. vaccination after exposure to mpox virus to help prevent mpox disease);
2. vaccination for prevention of mpox for:
   • gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) (including cis and trans men) who are:
     • staff and clients of sex on premises venues; OR
     • currently being prescribed HIV PrEP; OR
     • intending to engage in sexual practices with multiple partners during overseas travel to countries with known mpox outbreaks before 31 October 2022;

• • sex workers whose clients include gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) clients;
  • people on assessment and recommendation from accredited HIV S100 Prescribers or publicly funded sexual health clinics.

Referring for access to vaccination

Those that meet the current criteria can express their interest for the vaccine on the SHINE SA and Adelaide Sexual Health Centre websites.

The Tasmanian Department of Health will have access to the  JYNNEOS^® vaccination in limited supply in late 2022. It is expected that greater supply will be available from 2023. The initial roll-out with this limited supply is being coordinated through the Tasmanian Health Service and will focus on any high-risk close contacts of cases and those most-at risk. The vaccine will available be free of charge.

Eligibility for vaccine includes:

• Post-exposure vaccination for high-risk close contacts of mpox cases.
• Those at greatest risk of exposure and severe outcome, as outlined in the ATAGI guidance

Access to vaccination

Any questions about availability of vaccine should be discussed with the immunisation team in the Communicable Diseases Prevention Unit (CDPU) by contacting the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 (option 3).

More information can be found on the Tasmanian Department of Health website.

In Victoria, MPX vaccine (JYNNEOS^® vaccine) is available free-of-charge for specific priority groups but supply is currently limited.  Victoria is expected to receive more doses in October and additional doses at the beginning of 2023. A limited supply has been allocated to select public hospitals and sexual health clinics to vaccinate high risk individuals. More clinics and access points will be able to provide the vaccine as additional stock becomes available.

Eligibility criteria will be expanded when additional supply of vaccines become available.

Current eligibility criteria:

• Post exposure prophylaxis for high-risk close contacts of monkeypox cases (within 4 days)
• Laboratory workers who analyse specimens from monkeypox cases
• Sexually active HIV positive gay, bisexual, and other men, non-binary people assigned male at birth, or trans people who have sex with men (including cis and trans men)
  • With an STI in the last 12 months OR
  • Will be travelling to North America or Europe before 31 October* OR
  • Who attend sex on premises venues including saunas, adult cinemas/lounges, beats and sex parties.
• Sexually active HIV negative gay, bisexual, and other men, non-binary people assigned male at birth, or trans people who have sex with men (including cis and trans men)
  • With an STI in the last 12 months OR
  • Will be travelling to North America or Europe before 31 October* OR
  • Who attend sex on premises venues including saunas, adult cinemas/lounges, beats and sex parties.
• Sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men, non-binary people assigned male at birth, or trans people who have sex with men (including cis and trans men) who are homeless, or have significant drug use or psychiatric illness.
• Sex workers who engage in sex with the sexually active groups listed above.

The vaccine will largely be rolled out through sexual health clinics and will be available for pre
and post exposure protection. Vaccination will be largely available in the following locations:

• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
• Thorne Harbour Health
• Northside Clinic
• Collins Street Medical Centre
• Prahran Market Clinic

Referring for access to vaccination

Refer potentially eligible people to to book an appointment through the Victorian Department of Health or Thorne Harbour Health.

For more information, visit the Victoria Department of Health mpox alert page.

Notify any suspected or confirmed case to the Department of Health by calling 1300 651 160 (24/7).

WA Health has begun vaccinating people at highest risk of monkeypox.

Due to limited vaccine supply, those who are at highest risk of getting the disease and/or severe disease can access the vaccine first, free-of-charge.

Eligibility criteria:

Post exposure vaccination

• Contacts of a case as determined by the Public Health Unit.

Pre-exposure vaccination

• Healthcare workers who are highest risk for monkeypox for example, working at sexual health clinics and administering vaccinations to individuals requiring post exposure vaccination
• Laboratory workers handling live virus
• Gay, bisexual or men who have sex with other men (GBMSM):
  • with HIV
  • are on HIV PrEP
  • with immunocompromised conditions
  • who are experiencing homelessness, transgender, Aboriginal, or have significant drug use
  • who have had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past 12 months
  • with multiple sexual partners
  • participating in group sex or attending sex on premises venues
  • planning travel to a country experiencing a significant outbreak, with vaccination recommended 4-6 weeks prior to departure.
• Sex workers who have sex with GBMSM.

Referring for access to vaccination

Vaccines are available now and people can register their interest in receiving the monkeypox vaccine.

Medicare cards are not needed to receive the monkeypox vaccine and confidentiality is of priority at all services.

Patients should be encouraged to visit HealthyWA for information regarding vaccination, including registration.

Perth metropolitan area

People in the metropolitan area can register their interest for getting vaccinated at a state-run clinic via VaccinateWA.

People can alternatively contact a clinic to make an appointment for vaccination.

• Royal Perth Hospital Sexual Health Clinic phone: 9224 2178
• GP on Beaufort phone: 9262 8600
• M Clinic phone: 9227 0734
• Sexual Health Quarters phone: 9227 6177
• South Terrace Sexual Health Clinic phone: 9431 2149
• Central City Medical Centre phone: 9225 1188
• View St Medical phone: 9227 0170

Regional Western Australia

People in regional Western Australia can register their interest via the EOI form.

They can also contact their local regional Public Health Unit (external link).

NT Health are accepting referrals for vaccination against mpox from Monday 15th August 2022.

An initial 160 doses of the JYNNEOS® vaccine have been secured for the first phase of
vaccination. These doses will be prioritised to support outbreak management and reach those at
highest risk. More vaccines are expected to arrive in late September/October 2022 and will be
used for people considered to be at the next highest risk.

Initial eligibility criteria: Individuals 18 years and over who meet the eligibility
criteria will be offered the vaccine.

• • 1. Post exposure prophylaxis for high‐risk close contacts of mpox cases.
  • 2. Gay, bisexual men or men who have sex with men (GBM MSM) (including cis and trans men) who
    fulfil additional criteria.*
  • 3. Sex workers whose clients belong to high‐risk categories.
  • 4. Sistergirls.

*Additional criteria:

• • • GBM MSM intending to engage in sexual practices that put them at higher risk of STIs during
      overseas travel to Europe or North America before 31st October 2022.
    • Aboriginal GBM MSM living in or visiting remote communities.
    • Aboriginal GBM MSM on PrEP.
    • GBM MSM who are homeless, have significant drug use or psychiatric illness.

Initially the vaccine will only be administered at Clinic 34 in Darwin and Clinic 34 in Alice
Springs. Clients or their clinicians can call Clinic 34 for final eligibility assessment and if
deemed eligible will be able to book an appointment.

Clinic 34 Darwin: 08 8999 2678
Clinic 34 Alice Springs: 08 8951 7549

For more information visit the NT Government website.