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AAP
AAP
Health
Tim Dornin

SA gets first monkeypox vaccines

Public health chief Nicola Spurrier says SA wants to get on top of monkeypox as quickly as possible. (Naomi Jellicoe/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

South Australia has received an initial allocation of 900 monkeypox vaccines and will target vulnerable communities.

Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier says more doses are expected later this year and early next year.

SA hopes to get 7000 in the next batch and 5500 in 2023.

The first jabs arrived in SA on Tuesday and officials are keen to roll out the doses as soon as possible.

Professor Spurrier said those groups to be targeted include gay and bisexual men, people living with HIV, sex workers and their clients and people with a recent sexual infection.

She said while SA has had only one confirmed case of monkeypox so far, "what we want to do is get on top of this as quickly as we can".

"I do want to assure people we've got more vaccines coming."

The initial SA allocation was based on estimates of the state's high-risk population.

Prof Spurrier said the vaccine was not considered 100 per cent effective and other protective measures, including the use of condoms, was recommended.

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