Mpox (monkeypox)
Mpox is a disease caused by infection with the mpox virus.
It is contagious and can spread from person-to-person through skin-to-skin contact, contact with infected surfaces or items, and respiratory droplets. Transmission does however require prolonged and often intimate contact with an infected individual.
While OM PHU don’t administer the Mpox vaccine directly, please contact us if you require advice or further details in regard to access to the vaccine in our catchment.
What do people need to watch out for?
Symptoms can occur up to 21 days after being exposed to mpox.
Symptoms may include fever, chills, tiredness, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and rash. The rash can appear as vesicles, pustules or ulcers and affect any part of the body, including the anogenital area. Other symptoms may include pain on urination (urethritis) or rectal pain, bloody stools and/or diarrhoea (proctitis).
Mpox can spread from person-to-person through close or prolonged skin-to-skin contact, for example during sexual contact, as well as contact with contaminated items or surfaces and respiratory droplets.
People with mpox are considered infectious from the time they develop their first symptoms and until rash lesions have crusted, scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed underneath.
To read more, click on the fact sheet from the Ovens Murray Public Health Unit.
Mpox vaccine
Please see link for eligibility criteria. Eligibility criteria information.
Two doses are required for optimal protection and can be given 28 days apart. The mpox vaccine takes approximately 14 days before it is effective.
How to access the vaccine
Local vaccine providers are:
- Gateway Community Health (Wodonga), info@gatewayhealth.org.au, (02) 6022 8888
- Gateway Community Health (Wangaratta), info@gatewayhealth.org.au, (03) 5723 2000
- Gateway Community Health (Myrtleford), info@gatewayhealth.org.au, (03) 5731 3500 (by prior request)
- Clinic 72 Albury Community Health, sexual.health@awh.org.au, (02) 6058 1800
- Milawa Pharmacy, (03) 5719 3701
- Wangaratta Medical Clinic, reception@wangmed.com.au, (03) 5722 1600
- Elmwood Medical, (02) 6056 2011
- Good Price, (07) 3907 0533
For NSW vaccination locations, click here
For (VIC) metropolitan vaccination locations, click here