Monkeypox Vaccine Rollout Stalls In Regional Victoria
Monkeypox has been classed a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation. Gay, bisexual, and men who have sex are considered at high risk so there is an urgency to have vaccine rollouts available. Country health units in regional Victoria, however, are reporting an extremely limited amount of vaccine despite their eligibility, reports ABC News.
REGIONAL AREAS FEEL “LEFT BEHIND”
According to ABC News, an email was obtained that detailed the roadblocks one individual encountered when they tried to book in a vaccine in Bendigo. The Loddon Mallee Public Health unit responded by saying that the ten doses of vaccines they were supplied were to be used for HIV-positive people who also contracted an STI within the past past 12 months.
When Victoria first received a batch of the much sought-after vaccine, the rollout to regional areas was supposed to be available to public health units such as Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Thorne Harbour Health, Northside Clinic, Collins Street Medical Centre and Prahran Market Clinic, reports ABC News.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly labels monkeypox an incident of national significance, so it’s understandable that regional residents in Victoria are concerned with the lack of available vaccines. Sean Mulcahy from Latrobe University’s Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society says, “We need to reorient the city-centric approach towards the vaccine rollout and think about targeting communities in regional Victoria, who might be at risk.”
As of August 16, 3,500 doses have been given to Victoria and there are hopes that more doses will be supplied in September. Until then, Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas tells ABC News that eligible recipients can contact public health units to organise their vaccine shots and that any miscommunication is “concerning”. Ms Thomas has promised to look into claims that vaccines aren’t being made available.
