Despite community transmission, a vaccine will not be available in New Zealand until December.
The total number of confirmed monkeypox (MPX) cases in Aotearoa New Zealand has climbed to 25.
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand reported that two new cases have been confirmed this week, one in Auckland and the other in Wellington. Both cases are classified as community transmissions.
This figure (25) represents both active and recovered cases.
Despite the increase over the past 20 days of October, 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.
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.
