Do You Need the Monkeypox Vaccine?

Kaitlin Vogel
·2 min read
13

As monkeypox numbers continue to climb, many of us are wondering how to respond to the outbreak and be prepared in case of infection.

So, who is most at risk? People who have numerous sexual partners are most likely to become infected. As of now, the virus has mostly affected men who have sex with men, but monkeypox can spread to anyone who has direct or intimate contact with someone infected.

There are two vaccines available in the U.S. These include:

Jynneos

The preferred vaccine is Jynneos (imvamune, imvanex), which is live but non-replicating, so it cannot cause infection and is safe to use in immunocompromised people and during pregnancy, Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge, Chief Medical Officer and Founder of HealthTap, explains. Unfortunately, this vaccine is in short supply. Its use and eligibility for getting it are determined in each region by the local public health authority.

ACAM2000

This is a live virus vaccine that causes a very mild infection that prevents monkeypox. It is not recommended for people who are pregnant or who have weakened immune systems. After vaccination, the person may be able to transmit the vaccine virus to others, including to pregnant women or those who have weakened immune systems, says Dr. Rutledge.

Related: What Is Monkeypox, and How Worried Should We Be? Here's What Doctors Say

To schedule an appointment for the vaccine, you can contact your local or state health department. However, distribution is limited at this time. To be eligible for the vaccine you must meet the following criteria:

  • People who have been identified by public health officials as a contact of someone with monkeypox

  • People who may have been exposed to monkeypox, which includes:

• One of your sexual partners in the past two weeks has been diagnosed with monkeypox

• Having numerous sexual partners in the past two weeks in a location with known monkeypox cases.

The vaccine will be effective even after exposure, so health officials advise getting vaccinated within four days of the date of exposure to reduce the risk of infection.

Who Needs the Monkeypox Vaccine

"Vaccination is most important for people with a known exposure to monkeypox—vaccination within four days of exposure will prevent the disease,” says Dr. Rutledge. “From five days to two weeks after exposure, vaccination will reduce the severity of the illness. Vaccination is also recommended for people who are at high risk of exposure to monkeypox—people who have multiple sexual partners, particularly if they are in an area of the country where there are more cases, as well as healthcare workers who may come in contact with monkeypox patients or who are delivering the live attenuated vaccine (ACAM200)."

Next up: Doctors Explain These Are the First Symptoms of Monkeypox to Look Out For

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