👩⚕️ Clinical reference for health professionals. This page summarises published ATAGI / Australian Immunisation Handbook guidance and is not medical advice. Patients and members of the public: please don’t use this to make decisions about your own vaccination — talk to your GP or a sexual health clinic, or find your state’s mpox program below.
⚠️ Tier 2 — use clinical judgement. Mpox vaccine is supplied under state/territory emergency programs (not the NIP); eligibility, supply and access points change. Verify current details with your state service and the Australian Immunisation Handbook before clinical decisions. Page last reviewed June 2026.
ATAGI risk groups, pre- vs post-exposure vaccination, dosing and route, co-administration, and how eligible patients access free state-supplied vaccine.
🇦🇺 AUATAGI / AIH / NCIRSJune 2026
📋 Sources: Australian Immunisation Handbook — Mpox (previously known as monkeypox); NCIRS mpox vaccines FAQ; Australian Centre for Disease Control (mpox); state and territory health departments (NSW, VIC, QLD and others). Guidance is current as published at June 2026 and the Handbook chapter was under NHMRC consultation at that time — verify before clinical decisions. This page is information for health professionals, not medical advice.
Not on the NIP. Funded under emergency measures (s18A, Therapeutic Goods Act 1989) and supplied by states and territories. Providers should check vaccine availability with their state or territory.
Vaccine: JYNNEOS (MVA-BN) — third-generation, non-replicating modified vaccinia Ankara. Preferred for both pre- and post-exposure use.
Cost: free for eligible people in all states and territories; no Medicare card required. A consultation fee may apply at some GP clinics — confirm with the service.
Schedule: recommended age ≥16. Two doses, ≥28 days apart, subcutaneous (preferred). No booster currently recommended for the fully vaccinated or previously infected.
Per the Handbook, primary preventive vaccination (PPV) with a 2-dose schedule (≥28 days apart) is recommended for groups at risk of exposure:
sexually active gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), including transgender and gender-diverse people;
sex workers, particularly those whose clients may be at risk of mpox exposure;
people living with HIV, if at risk of exposure (particular consideration where CD4 <200 cells/mm³);
laboratory personnel working with orthopoxviruses.
May also be considered for healthcare workers at risk of exposure (based on local risk assessment), and regular sexual partners of the groups above. Severely immunocompromised people should be prioritised to receive the 2nd dose close to (but not before) 28 days.
Per the Handbook, post-exposure preventive vaccination (PEPV) is recommended for anyone categorised by public health authorities as a high-risk mpox contact within the past 14 days.
Give as soon as possible: within 4 days of first exposure gives the highest likelihood of preventing disease; 4–14 days is likely to attenuate disease.
A single dose is given; if mpox does not occur and exposure risk is ongoing, a 2nd dose ≥28 days later completes a primary course.
People who previously received a smallpox vaccine and are eligible for PEPV should receive it as soon as possible, regardless of the timing of the previous dose.
Contact your local public health unit for risk categorisation of contacts (see the CDNA national guidelines on mpox).
NCIRS / ATAGI now recommend pre-travel vaccination for anyone — regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity — who may undertake sexual risk activities while travelling to countries with transmission of clade I mpox. Allow time for both doses (≥28 days apart) before travel where possible.
Eligibility, supply and access vary by state and territory — confirm with your state program. Clinical decisions remain with the treating clinician.
Standard course: 2 × 0.5 mL subcutaneous, given 28 days apart. Subcutaneous is the preferred route, and is current standard Australian practice.
Intradermal 0.1 mL is a dose-sparing option for PPV only, by suitably experienced providers; it is not preferred for the first PEPV dose. (Intradermal dosing dates to the 2022 supply shortage.) Check your state’s guidance before using the intradermal route.
Subcutaneous and intradermal routes are considered interchangeable for completing a 2-dose PPV course.
MVA-BN (non-replicating) can generally be co-administered with other vaccines, including live vaccines.
mRNA COVID-19 vaccines: the Handbook notes a myocarditis/pericarditis consideration. If timing is not urgent, consider spacing MVA-BN and an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine about 4 weeks apart, particularly in younger males — this is precautionary only. Recent mRNA recipients should not delay PPV or PEPV if protection is needed.
Immunocompromised / HIV: immune response may be reduced (more so if severely immunocompromised); prioritise the 2nd dose and consider specialist input for those at ongoing risk.
Pregnancy / breastfeeding: PEPV may be considered after a risk–benefit assessment; MVA-BN is the preferred product. Safety data are limited but no concerns have been identified to date.
Children: off-label MVA-BN is possible for PEPV after a risk–benefit assessment.
Atopic dermatitis: higher rate of local reactions — counsel accordingly. Keloid history: avoid the intradermal route (use subcutaneous).
Severe egg/chicken allergy: MVA-BN is cultured in chicken embryo fibroblast cells — discuss with an immunologist/allergist or refer.
Absolute contraindication: anaphylaxis to a previous dose, or to any component/trace residue, of an MVA-BN mpox vaccine.
Where patients access the vaccine
Free for eligible people; no Medicare card needed; a consultation fee may apply at some GP clinics. Access points (sexual health clinics, some pharmacies, GPs, council clinics) vary by jurisdiction — direct patients to their state or territory program for current eligibility and booking.