Getting the vaccine is one way to protect yourself from the mpox virus. For people with certain risk factors who have never had mpox, the CDC recommends getting two doses of JYNNEOS vaccine at least 28 days apart.
Keep in mind:
- If you have only received one dose, it’s never too late to get the second dose.
- If you have recovered from mpox, you do not need the mpox vaccine.
- At this time, getting more than 2 mpox vaccine doses (a “booster”) isn’t recommended.
- Whether or not you’ve been vaccinated, continue to reduce your risk of getting mpox.
How can I get the shots?
If you live near Akron, Cincinnati, and Columbus, you can get the vaccine at Equitas Health.
If you don’t live close to those Equitas Health locations, please contact your local health department. They can tell you what to do and help you get started.
To find your local health department, click here.
Who should get vaccinated?
The CDC says the vaccine is advised for:
- People who have been in close contact with someone who has mpox
- People who may have been exposed to mpox, such as:
- People who know that one of their sexual partners in the past 2 weeks has mpox
- People who had more than one sex partner in the past 2 weeks in a place with known mpox cases
- People whose jobs may expose them to orthopoxviruses.
At this time, Ohio has a limited number of JYNNEOS doses for mpox. Doses are released in the state by the Ohio Department of Health.
Does the vaccine work?
JYNNEOS vaccine is effective. Two doses of the vaccine provide the most protection. If you get vaccinated, you can still get mpox, but your illness may be less severe.
Three separate studies showed that the average vaccine (VE) effectiveness of JYNNEOS vaccine is 80% when people got both recommended doses. This means for every 100 unvaccinated people who get mpox, only 20 vaccinated people will get mpox.
What are common side effects of the vaccine?
Side effects are common but usually mild. Most people have redness, swelling and pain where they got the shot. Tiredness, headache and muscle pain can also happen after getting the shot.
How quickly does JYNNEOS vaccine work?
Maximum protection takes 14 days after the second dose of JYNNEOS vaccine.
People who get vaccinated should keep protecting themselves from infection by not having close, skin-to-skin contact, such as sex, with someone who has mpox.
Where can I learn more?
Equitas Health will share news and updates on our website whenever we have them.
You can also visit the CDC’s website at cdc.gov/mpox or the Ohio Department of Health’s website.