Concern some Kiwis not ‘sufficiently protected’ as mpox vaccine ‘difficult’ to get | CPT PPP Coverage

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People trying to access the monkeypox (mpox) vaccine are reporting difficulties in accessing appointments across the country, as the official outbreak response prepares to wind up.

The Burnett Foundation said it is hearing anecdotally that people are experiencing long wait times, being put on wait lists, and facing limited clinic availability – including in major centres.

Chief executive Joe Rich? said clinic availability and access issues need to be resolved “with urgency”, as its communities are “not sufficiently protected” if there was a resurgence of cases.

There have been 42 recorded cases of mpox in Aoteaora, 31 acquired locally. No new cases have been identified since February.

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Although there are no cases in Aotearoa at present, there are still cases and outbreaks in other countries – including Australia, Rich said.

“Now is the best time for our communities to get vaccinated, as it may be much more difficult after the official programme ends.”

To date, a total of 2745 first doses and 215 second doses have been administered.

The vaccine is free and available to gay, bisexual, and other men (cis or trans) who have sex with men (MSM) who are at higher risk, as well as their sexual partners. It is also available to anyone who is a close contact of someone who has been infected with mpox.

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As the vaccine has not been approved in Aotearoa, it is illegal to promote or advertise it.

Rich said vaccination is “the best form of protection if there was to be another outbreak here in the future”.

Since January, people at greater risk of mpox have been able to book a consultation to discuss prevention options.

Matt Hannant?, interim director – prevention at the National Public Health Service confirmed that the mpox outbreak response consultation programme will be disestablished next month, as it moves from an outbreak response to “business-as-usual”.

This was in response to a “declining” number of cases in Aotearoa, and the World Health Organisation declaring in May that mpox was no longer a global health emergency, Hannant said.

The consultation service will continue until August 31, he said.

After August, the vaccine will continue to be available through prescribing medical practitioners as appropriate.

While imported mpox cases are “expected”, the risk of sustained and/or undetected community transmission was considered “low”, Hannant said.

Instances of mpox in the community going forward would be managed as part of business-as-usual within the public health service – consistent with its response to other outbreaks, for example such as for measles, which can be “scaled back once community transmission risk reduces”.

Hannant said consultation appointments remain available across the motu in the meantime.

People at risk of mpox can contact Healthline on 0800 116 672 between 8am-8pm to book a consultation for a vaccine.