Mpox Vaccines Are Here: Where to Get Them

South Africa’s Department of Health has announced that vaccines for mpox are now available in three provinces, while also confirming two new cases.

The Department has prioritised the most affected provinces — Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal — for the initial rollout. Vaccinations are accessible at selected public health facilities, travel clinics, and a few private healthcare providers in these regions.

Those at higher risk of contracting the virus will be prioritised. This includes individuals who have been in close contact with confirmed cases, people with multiple sexual partners, and travellers heading to areas experiencing mpox outbreaks.

South Africa has received approximately 10,500 doses of the mpox vaccine, Imvanex®, donated by the Africa Centres for Disease Control through the Access and Allocation Mechanism for Mpox.

Given the limited quantity, the vaccine will be distributed in phases, focusing on outbreak hotspots and guided by availability.

• A list of public health vaccination sites is available here or see below.

What to Expect After Vaccination

The vaccine has already been used to help control mpox in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, the United States, Canada, and in Europe.

As with most vaccines, recipients may experience mild to moderate side effects—typically a normal indication that the body is building immunity.

Common side effects include pain, redness, swelling and itching at the injection site, muscle pain, headache, nausea, and fever. These usually resolve on their own within a few days without treatment.

Mpox in South Africa

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), there were 25 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases in South Africa in 2024, including three deaths. Many of those infected were gay or other men who have sex with men (MSM).

So far in 2025, ten confirmed cases have been reported. The two most recent involve a 32-year-old from Cape Town and a 45-year-old from Johannesburg, both with no recent travel history, suggesting local transmission within South Africa.

While mpox is generally a mild disease with a low fatality rate, it can pose a greater risk to people living with immunodeficiencies, especially those with untreated HIV/AIDS.

Symptoms and Transmission: What You Need to Know

Mpox symptoms typically include a rash lasting two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen glands. The rash can appear as painful blisters or sores and may affect the face, hands, feet, groin, and genital or anal areas.

Although not classified as a sexually transmitted infection, mpox can be spread through close or intimate physical contact. This includes oral, anal, and vaginal sex, as well as touching the genitals or anus of someone with the virus.

Other transmission routes include hugging, kissing, massage, or talking in close proximity, as well as contact with contaminated bedding, towels, clothing, or sex toys.

If you suspect you may have mpox, please visit your local clinic or health care provider. For more information on mpox, read our mpox guide for men who have sex with men or visit the NICD website.