With 24 confirmed cases of Mpox in Victoria, Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Looker has advised the state is at ongoing risk of local transmission.
To address this, the eligibility criteria for the free primary prevention and post-exposure preventative vaccines have now been expanded to include additional at-risk groups including:
• Sexually active gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men.
• Sexually active transgender and gender diverse people, if at risk of mpox exposure.
• Sex workers, particularly those whose clients are at risk of mpox exposure.
• Sexual partners (including anonymous or intimate contacts) of the above groups.
• Sex-on-premises venue staff and attendees.
• People living with HIV, if at risk of mpox exposure, and their partners.
• Laboratory personnel working with orthopoxviruses.
Vaccination may also be considered for healthcare workers at risk of exposure to patients with mpox, based on local risk assessments. This may include primary care, sexual health clinics, hospital staff and others. The risk of transmission should also be minimised by using infection control measures.
People experiencing symptoms of Mpox should seek medical care and testing.