How to Avoid Mpox (Monkeypox) During Your Pride Month Travels

Pride month has reached the northern hemisphere! 

Soon, BDSM and leather lovers will head off to party and get naughty in Berlin at Folsom, the biggest gay fetish event in Europe.

Tens of thousands of bears will leave their hibernation holes and head to Ptown (otherwise known as Provincetown) in Cape Cod, Massachusetts for a week at the beach.

Queer men from all corners of the earth will set sail on an Atlantis Cruise for a chance to experience new places, people, and play.

If you’re planning to travel north (by air or gay cruise!) for pride festivities in the summer heat – we love that for you.

But a gentle reminder: Mpox (monkeypox) has been on the rise here in Australia and around the world. So, if your plans for Pride 2024 involve international travel, here’s how to keep yourself safe from Mpox.

Getting the monkeypox vaccine

Heading overseas? Make sure you get your monkeypox vaccine before you go. The vaccine is the most effective tool we have for preventing Mpox.

The Mpox vaccine is given in two doses, at least 28 days apart. You’ll be most protected from Mpox starting two weeks after that second dose, so try to time your second dose about two weeks before you leave.

You can book an appointment at one of our free Mpox vaccination clinics, which run every Friday and Saturday at our St Kilda and Abbotsford clinics. You can also use Emen8’s Find a Service interactive map and filter by 'Monkeypox Vaccination' to find a clinic near you.

If you’ve already had both doses, there’s no need for a booster or follow-up. Two doses, and you’re done!

Practising safety overseas

After you’ve gotten vaccinated, you can take extra precautions to stay safe during your travels.

Wherever you’re headed, take care to follow the public health alerts and advice from local health authorities. Keep an eye out for event updates about pride festivals or events, too. Organisers may let you know about any outbreaks related to the event.

We’d also recommend swapping contact information with your holiday hook-ups. If any of your partners start to show symptoms, you can let each other know that it’s time to get tested.

Speaking of symptoms, checking yourself for monkeypox symptoms before heading out to play can help keep other members of the community safe from Mpox. If you notice Mpox symptoms during your overseas travels or after you get home, seek medical advice ASAP.

Enjoying peace of mind

With the latest monkeypox outbreak, it’s important that international travellers are prepared to protect themselves. But with two doses of the monkeypox vaccine and the know-how to stay safe, you can enjoy your time away with peace of mind.

Happy Pride Month and safe travels!

You can find more information about monkeypox symptoms and the vaccine here.