Now is the time to get the Mpox vaccine
As we are heading into the summer holiday season, we want to provide our community with an update on the current situation concerning Mpox in Victoria.
After a long lobbying effort from the CEO and Board of Directors, Living Positive Victoria has been added to the Victorian Department of Health’s consultation process for Mpox.
Around 30% of national cases have been among people living with HIV. This means there is disproportionate impact of Mpox within our community.
The weekly numbers for November and December are consistently in the mid to high teens in Victoria.
95% of cases are locally acquired and notification of cases is made complex, with many occurring in settings like hook up’s via apps, sex on premises venues and beats.
59% of cases are among Australian born folks with 41% among people born overseas.
Currently, there is not enough data or evidence to say whether it’s primarily sexual activity, a predisposition due to HIV, or a combination of both factors making up this 30%.
Populations at most risk are men who have sex with men, including bi-sexual and some trans and gender diverse folks who have sex with men.
Symptoms
Initial symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle aches, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes (similar to COVID or the flu) before progressing to a skin rash or lesions. The rash usually begins within one to three days of the start of a fever. The rash or lesions can also be found on the face, arms, and legs as well as in the mouth and around the genitals/anus.
Because Mpox rashes can resemble some STIs (for example herpes), it is important to contact your GP or local sexual health clinic and let them know about your symptoms when you make an appointment.
The incubation period (the time from infection to the onset of symptoms) of Mpox is usually 7-14 days, but it can be as short as 1-2 days or as long as 21 days.
While symptoms are typically mild, for some people with moderate to serious cases, Mpox can be quite painful.
Some good news
Vaccination is free and a Medicare card is not required to access vaccination.
The number of folks from high-risk populations now fully vaccinated in Victoria has risen above 40%, with another 20% having had their first vaccination.
We know that people living with HIV understand the concept of “by protecting myself I am protecting others” via adherence to anti retro-viral medications and the broader benefits of treatment as prevention. Vaccination for Mpox will reduce the potential impacts of severe infection and reduce the rates of forward transmission across the community.
There are many ways you can access vaccinations in Victoria via participating clinics, GP’s and some Pharmacies.
For locations of vaccination centres go to thorneharbour.org/sexual-health/mpox
For more information you can also go to napwha.org.au/mpox/