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AusVaxSafety to actively monitor mpox (monkeypox) vaccine safety

With mpox (monkeypox) declared a ‘communicable disease incident of national significance’ in Australia and the mpox vaccine to become available over the coming weeks, AusVaxSafety is all set to support the safe roll out of the vaccination program. The established and well-tested vaccine safety surveillance system will begin monitoring the adverse event profile and safety of the mpox vaccine as soon as the first doses are administered.

AusVaxSafety will send out a short online survey via SMS or email to individuals who receive their mpox vaccine at an immunisation site participating in the AusVaxSafety program. Immunisation sites have been selected to ensure a representative sample from around the country for effective safety surveillance.

Vaccine safety surveys have been tailored to the specific needs of the mpox vaccination program to ensure the timely capture of all relevant adverse events, by allowing participants to report any adverse events they may have experienced at different time intervals after their mpox vaccination.
 
Once a survey is completed, de-identified data will be provided to AusVaxSafety in near–real time, to be analysed and monitored by epidemiologists to ensure the early detection and investigation of any safety issues. This gives us reassurance that the vaccine is performing as safely and effectively as we expect it to.

Once available, data will be published on the AusVaxSafety website to provide individuals with real-world Australian-specific safety data for the mpox vaccine, as part of Australia’s commitment to the ongoing safety of vaccines through robust monitoring.

If you are getting a mpox vaccine, look out for the AusVaxSafety QR code poster to register for surveillance.

Click here to view clinical guidance on mpox vaccination from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI)

Click here to view more information on mpox from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

The AusVaxSafety active vaccine safety surveillance system complements the enhanced safety surveillance activities of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Find out more about how the TGA monitors the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and how you can report side effects on the TGA website. 

AusVaxSafety is led by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.