By Maribel Velazquez
Aug 21, 2024, 10:47 AM EDT
A week after the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a health alert for monkeypox, now known as mpox, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that risk groups get vaccinated as a preventive measure.
In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the JYNNEOS vaccine, which is used to prevent both smallpox and monkeypox and is only applied to adolescents at risk of contracting the disease before their exposure.
The vaccine is also available for use as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for children and adolescents under 18 years of age who are determined to be at high risk for MPOX, CDC says on its official website.
The vaccine, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is also targeted at the following groups:
- Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, transgender, or nonbinary people who have had any of the following in the past 6 months:
- A new diagnosis of ≥1 sexually transmitted disease
- More than one sexual partner
- Sex in a commercial sex venue
- Sex in association with a large public event in a geographic area where mpox transmission occurs
- Sexual partners of people with the risks described above
- People who anticipate experiencing any of the above
The CDC also reported that people who get the dose will get better protection. The vaccination schedule consists of getting one dose, waiting at least four weeks, and then getting the second. Two weeks later, the highest levels of protection will be achieved.
Where can I get the monkeypox vaccine?
According to the CDC, vaccines are available free of charge at health departments across the country.
We list some places where you can go to get vaccinated. If you have any doubts about which department to go to, it is important to go to the website to access the map of locations.
- * 1. Florida: in Miami.
- Midway Specialty Care Center
- Address: 3661 South Miami Ave, Ste 202 Miami, FL 33133
- * 2. California: in Los Angeles
- St Johns Community Health. Washington High School
- Address: 1555 W 110th St, Los Angeles, CA 90047
- * 3. New York: in New York City
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic
- Address: 303 9th Ave, Manhattan, NY 10001
- * 4. Illinois: in Chicago
- Erie Family Health Center Incorporated. Erie Westside Health Center
- Address: 646 N Lawndale Ave, Chicago, IL 60624
- * 5. In Washington DC
- DC Health and Wellness Center
- Address: 77 P St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Anyone who has a rash on their hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or near the genitals should see a doctor.
Some symptoms that occur are: fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle and back pain, headache and respiratory symptoms.
You may be interested in:
* WHO implements international health alert for monkeypox
* WHO changes the name of monkeypox; it will now be called mpox
* Centers for Disease Control encourages walk-in vaccinations to curb monkeypox in US
* Monkeypox: 40% of patients have complications, study says