JOY BLOG

5 Jan 2026

Get your free mpox vaccination at Midsumma Festival 2026

Victorian Department of Health is a proud JOY Sponsor.

Get your free mpox vaccination at Midsumma Festival 2026

Keep yourself, your partners, and your community healthy and safe this Midsumma!

Protecting yourself and the community at Midsumma

Vaccine to prevent mpox is available. Vaccination is free, safe, and effective. Two doses are required for optimal protection.

You can get your free mpox vaccine with the support of Midsumma Festival organisers and the Melbourne City Council immunisation team.

The council’s outreach van will be at the below festival events, offering first and second doses – and if it’s your first, you can book your second right there.:

Midsumma Carnival: Sunday, 18 January, from 11am to 4pm
Victoria’s Pride Street Party: Sunday, 8 February, from 11am to 4pm.

If you’ve already had your first dose, you can get your second dose here. Even if it’s been a while, you don’t need to restart your course of vaccine.

Bookings are available. Walk-ins are welcome!

Book your spot at the Carnival or Street Party using this link or scan the QR code on your phone.

https://melbourneworkplaces.book.vitavo.com.au/workplace/mpoxmidsummafestival19thjanuary-E4KYHe

What is mpox?

Mpox is an infection caused by the monkeypox virus. It mostly spreads through direct physical or intimate contact with someone who has mpox. Most people have a mild illness and recover within a few weeks, but some people may become very unwell and need to be admitted to hospital. Mpox can be serious, especially for those at greater risk of severe disease, such as people living with HIV.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms usually include rashes, pimple-like lesions, or ulcers that can affect any part of the body including the genitals, anus, buttocks, mouth, face, and limbs. Some people get muscle aches or pains, pain in or around the anus, or pain on passing urine. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and tiredness.

Symptoms can occur up to 21 days after being exposed to the infection. If you get symptoms, visit your GP or local sexual health clinic to get tested.

Who is at risk?

While anyone can be exposed to and affected by mpox, those most at risk of infection are:

gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
travellers to countries with mpox outbreaks
people with multiple sexual partners or who attend large sex positive parties or sex on premises venues.

For more information about mpox, please visit the Better Health Channel: Mpox (Monkeypox) symptoms, treatment and immunisation