More than 20,000 additional monkeypox vaccines are expected to arrive in Victoria in September as cases rise across the state.

Some 53 cases have been detected in Victoria since the beginning of the outbreak in May, according to the most recent update on Friday from the state’s health department.

Eligibility has been tightened until the new shipment arrives and websites for two of the five clinics that administer the vaccine in Melbourne say they have run out of doses.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the vaccine is in scarce supply around the world and Victoria initially had a “limited number” available.

“We are awaiting supply from the Commonwealth, and the Commonwealth is working hard to bring in vaccines. This is a global challenge,” she told reporters on Sunday.

Plea for increased supplies

“We’re certainly looking to the vaccine manufacturers to increase the supply and make sure that we can get it as available to as many people as possible.”

The Victorian Health Department says the outbreak has disproportionately impacted men who have sex with men and anyone who has been in close proximity to a case is at risk.

“We don’t want to stigmatise this disease and we want to make sure that we are getting the right care in place,” Ms Thomas said.

“We are working with the sexual health services and other services that we know are connecting with those who are currently most at risk.”

The latest statistics released by the Australian Health Department on August 25th show 106 cases have been detected across Australia since May.

450,000 extra doses

Earlier this month, federal Health Minister Mark Butler said 450,000 extra doses would arrive by the end of 2023.

The virus is spread through skin-to-skin contact or from touching contaminated objects.

It can cause sores, lesions, rashes, aches, fevers, swollen lymph nodes and other symptoms.

The World Health Organisation says the number of cases globally has declined by more than 20 per cent over the past week.

-AAP