For Those at High Risk, Get Vaccinated!
The mpox vaccine is recommended for individuals who have been exposed, or are at high risk of exposure, to the mpox virus. If either of these situations applies to you, contact your local health department to see if you are eligible for vaccination and to find where it is available.
About the Mpox Vaccine
VDH recommends vaccination for people who have been exposed to mpox and people who may be more likely to get mpox.
Should I get the mpox vaccine?
VDH has adopted CDC mpox vaccination recommendations. Please visit the CDC’s website to learn more about who should get the mpox vaccine.
Vaccination is not a treatment for mpox. If you are sick with mpox, contact your healthcare provider to discuss treatment options.
What vaccination will I receive?
At this time, JYNNEOS is the primary vaccine used in Virginia for prevention of mpox. For more information about what to expect when receiving the JYNNEOS vaccine, visit the CDC’s website.
How do I prepare for my vaccination?
If you are eligible to get the vaccine, you may receive the vaccine intradermally, in the skin in your forearm.
People of any age with a history of developing keloid scars and individuals younger than 18 years of age should receive the vaccine via the subcutaneous route. Patients with concerns about intradermal administration due to potential stigma or other personal reasons should be offered subcutaneous doses.
Like any vaccination, you will likely have to fill out paperwork when you schedule your appointment or when you arrive to get your vaccine.
It is usually also helpful to wear loose-fitting clothing and to make sure that the vaccine site is easy to access. You may be asked to wait 15 minutes after you receive the vaccine to be observed for reactions.
You may be able to also receive your COVID-19 booster or flu shot at the same visit. Ask your healthcare provider which vaccines are available and recommended for you. In some cases, a COVID-19 vaccine may be delayed by 4 weeks if the JYNNEOS vaccine is given first. For more information, read the CDC Interim Considerations.
There is no cost to receive the vaccine, regardless of insurance status.
What do I do after I’ve received the vaccine?
It is important to get both doses of vaccine for the best protection against mpox. Even if it has been longer than 28 days since you received the first dose, it is not too late to get the second dose. You do not have to restart the vaccination series.
You should still continue to take precautions after vaccination.
The JYNNEOS vaccine is given in two-doses with 28 days between doses. You are considered protected 14 days after your second dose (about 6 weeks after your first dose). You should continue to take precautions against mpox between doses.
We don’t know if JYNNEOS will fully protect against mpox virus infection in this outbreak, so infections may occur even if you are vaccinated. If you want to reduce your risk, keep taking preventative measures after being vaccinated.
For more information about mpox vaccines and other prevention measures, please visit the CDC Prevention website.
The CDC now offers v-safe, a smartphone-based tool that checks in on you after your vaccination. It is free, personalized, and confidential. V-safe first launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as an innovative vaccine safety monitoring system to gather post-COVID-19 vaccination information from enrolled participants. The v-safe system now offers personalized health check-ins for those receiving mpox vaccine. Participants will need to enroll for v-safe mpox even if they previously enrolled and participated in v-safe for COVID-19, and they can participate in v-safe after their second dose of mpox vaccine, even if they did not participate after their first dose. You can sign up for this free service by visiting the v-safe website.
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Last updated: March 17, 2023
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