Monkeypox vaccines arrive in Australia as rollout begins to stop spread of disease
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Monkeypox is related to the virus that causes smallpox and occurs mostly in Central and West Africa.
It is less severe than smallpox and can be spread from infected animals to people, or from person to person.
But monkeypox does not spread easily between people.
Transmission between humans occurs through close contact with rashes, blisters or sores on the skin.
The rash can vary from person to person and take on the appearance of pimples, blisters or sores, especially on the genital and perianal regions of affected people.
Infection can pass between humans via body fluids, including respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing (this is less common and usually only happens if there is prolonged face-to-face contact)
It can also transmit via contaminated objects such as linen and towels.
Monkeypox is usually not life-threatening. Infection with the virus usually causes a mild illness and most people recover within a few weeks.
It can also have more significant symptoms such as painful rash or sores in the throat or rectum.
Some people can get severely unwell and suffer complications and potentially death.
Young children and pregnant women are also at higher risks of developing complications.
Problems can include secondary infection, scarring, sepsis (infection of the blood stream), pneumonia (lung infection) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
A complete vaccination course with JYNNEOS® requires two doses, given at least 28 days apart, by injection.
People at high risk of monkeypox virus infection who have received a smallpox vaccine dose more than ten years ago are recommended to receive only one dose of the new monkeypox jab.
People who have had monkeypox virus infection during this outbreak are not recommended to be vaccinated at this time as they are likely to have immune protection from their infection.
There are no studies directly assessing the effectiveness of JYNNEOS® in people infected with the smallpox virus or the monkeypox virus.
However, studies have shown that people given it produced antibodies to a level expected to provide protection against smallpox.
Maximum protection occurs around two weeks after the second dose of this vaccine.
Common side effects reported after receiving the vaccine include: injection site pain, redness, swelling or itch, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, nausea, chills and fever
Source: Health.gov.au, GP News