Mpox

Mpox is caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox, though it typically causes a much milder illness. It spreads mainly through close, often skin-to-skin contact – including sexual contact – with someone who has mpox, as well as contact with their bedding, clothing, or other items that have touched their rash or sores.

Mpox symptoms usually appear within 5–21 days of exposure and can include:

• A rash or sores – these may appear on the genitals, anus, mouth, hands, feet, or elsewhere on the body, and can look like pimples, blisters, or ulcers
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Muscle aches and fatigue
• Headache
• Pain when urinating or pain in the rectal area (if sores are present in those areas)

Symptoms typically last 2–4 weeks. The rash goes through several stages before fully healing, and a person remains infectious until all sores have healed and new skin has formed.

If you have a new or unexplained rash, sores, or any of the above symptoms, see a doctor or visit a sexual health clinic. Avoid close contact with others, including sex, until you’ve been assessed.

To book your free mpox vaccination, visit the M Clinic website, or call M Clinic on 08 9227 0734 to arrange a time. You can also speak to your usual GP about whether the mpox vaccine is right for you.

Once you complete your two (2) dose course, there is no need for a booster – you are at the maximum recommended level of protection.

WAAC and M Clinic have partnered with Perth Steam Works and Connections Nightclub to provide pop-up vaccination clinics at their venues:

Perth Steam Works: Mondays, 12-2pm | Thursdays, 5.30-7.30pm

Connections Nightclub: Wednesdays, 5-7pm

Vaccinations at these venues are FREE, and do not require an appointment – walk-ins are welcome and encouraged.

In WA, the mpox vaccine is available for:

• Sexually active gay, bisexual, or queer men, and other men who have sex with men (including cis and trans men)
• Sexually active trans and non-binary people who have sex with men
• Sex workers, particularly those whose clients may be at risk of mpox exposure
• People living with HIV, if at risk of mpox exposure
• Sexual partners of anyone in the groups above
• People who’ve been in close contact with a confirmed mpox case (post-exposure vaccination)
• Healthcare and laboratory workers who are occupationally at risk

If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible, just ask – our staff can talk you through it confidentially, no judgment, no pressure.

The mpox vaccine (JYNNEOS®) is given as two (2) doses, four (4) weeks apart, for full protection. It’s a straightforward injection, similar to other routine vaccinations. Most side effects are mild and short-lived – soreness at the injection site, tiredness, or a mild headache are the most common.

A complete course offers 66-86% protection from acquiring mpox, and reduces the severity of symptoms if you do catch mpox.

Mpox vaccinations are now administered subcutaneously or via an injection in the upper arm, similar to COVID or flu vaccinations, and are unlikely to leave a mark. Previously, many people received the Mpox vaccine intradermally, which involved a shallow injection just under the skin in the forearm and often left a temporary mark.

In the current mpox outbreak in Australia, we are noticing a larger proportion of cases among people living with HIV. For individuals who are severely immunocompromised and not on HIV antiviral medication, mpox can be more severe and last longer.

A large number of cases detected are among the gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (GBMSM) communities. This is most likely because the GBMSM community are more sex-positive and participates in more sex-positive social events, and more routinely tests for STIs.

It is important to note that while majority of cases seen are in the gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men communities, mpox is not limited to these communities – there are currently cases detected in people with no connections to the LGBTIQA+ community, so it is important to vaccinate