Despite further community transmission, the vaccine which has already rolled out in Australia, America and the UK will not be available in NZ until December.
The total number of confirmed monkeypox (MPX) cases in Aotearoa New Zealand has climbed to 28.
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand reported a new case in Auckland, classified as community transmission, where the disease has been transmitted within New Zealand.
This figure (28) represents both active and recovered cases.
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand say the risk of monkeypox spreading throughout the country, “remains low as it is not very contagious.”
The biggest at risk community remains men who have sex with men.
Despite Monkeypox only being passed through intimate contact, those who test positive are required to isolate at home until their lesions have healed – a process that can take between two to four weeks.
Currently the government is not offering financial support to those having to isolate for this period.
While efforts are being made by Health New Zealand to secure vaccines, those most at risk of monkeypox won’t be able to access a vaccine until December, despite it rolling out across Australia in August.
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand are working with Pharmac to secure supply of the smallpox vaccine, Jynneos.
The delay in the rollout across New Zealand is being blamed on global supply constraints.
express has reached out to Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand for comment.
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