Doctor warns that half of mpox cases may be breakthrough infections, as case numbers surge
Nearly 500 cases have been reported this year compared with around 150 during the first outbreak two years ago.
Half of patients with mpox during the latest outbreak have received one or two vaccine doses, according to a sexual health physician who is also warning of greater local transmission.
Associate Professor Jason Ong, from the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, says the vaccines used for mpox are “theoretically” 80% effective.
“But in real life, it has probably been closer to 50%,” he told AusDoc.
“We found that half of our cases were in people that were either fully or partly vaccinated, which was a little bit concerning for us.”
