Mpox Vaccine

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Page last updated 11/7/2023

See below, or click the following links, to learn more about:

Text COSD MPOX to 468-311.

Get text updates about mpox from the County. Text COSD MPOX to 468-311. (Phone users: tap to create the message)

What You Need to Know

Get your Mpox vaccine from a provider near you. Contact your healthcare provider or visit MyTurn.ca.gov to schedule an appointment for your no-cost vaccine.

Click here for a list of County coordinated vaccination sites.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommend vaccination for people who have been exposed to mpox and people who may be at risk for mpox. Persons who request vaccination should receive it without having to attest to specific risk factors.

Mpox vaccines are available at many locations. Visit the Mpox Vaccinations Schedule webpage for more information.

About the JYNNEOS Vaccine

The JYNNEOS vaccine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent both mpox and smallpox.
Vaccination helps protect against mpox when given before or shortly after an exposure.
The CDC recommends people get two (2) JYNNEOS doses four weeks apart.
The JYNNEOS vaccine is given through an injection (shot) in one of the following ways:
- Subcutaneous (beneath the skin in the upper arm): This method has been approved for people 18 years or older and is also authorized under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for people under 18 years of age.
  - People of any age with a history of develop keloid scars, and individuals younger than 18 years of age, should receive the vaccine via the subcutaneous route.
- Intradermal (in the skin layer underneath the epidermis/the upper skin layer): Under new guidelines from the FDA and CDC, this method is approved for people 18 years or older.
Studies show the JYNNEOS vaccine can reduce the risk of mpox illness, with 2 doses providing the best protection. No vaccine is 100% effective. People who have been vaccinated can still get mpox, but vaccination may make illness less severe.
For more information:

Vaccine Recommendations

Any person who may be at risk for mpox infection, or persons who request vaccination, may receive vaccination without having to report specific risk factors. Some individuals are at high risk for mpox infection and/or complications of mpox infection. They should be considered a priority and are strongly encouraged to receive the vaccination to decrease infection spread, minimize serious illness, and prevent facilities. This includes any of the following:

Anyone living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Any man or trans person who has sex with men or trans persons.
People who use or who are eligible for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Sex workers.
Sexual partners of the above groups.
People who have had direct skin-to-skin contact with one or more people AND who know others in their community that have had mpox infection.
People who have been diagnosed with a bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) in the past 3 months.
People who anticipate experiencing the above risks.

Known close contacts of people who have mpox should be vaccinated as soon as possible. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). People in specific occupational groups should be offered vaccination.

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Vaccine-Related Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the mpox vaccine?
The mpox vaccine is also known as the JYNNEOS vaccine and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent both mpox and smallpox. Vaccination helps protect against mpox when given before or shortly after an exposure. This vaccine is currently available in the United States from the federal Strategic National Stockpile.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommend vaccination for people who have been exposed to mpox and people who may be at risk for mpox.
How can I schedule my second dose of mpox vaccine?
Individuals may book an appointment at www.MyTurn.ca.gov or through their healthcare provider.

Please continue to check our website, at www.sandiegocounty.gov/mpox, and sign up for text alerts by texting COSD Monkeypox to 468-311, for updated information about vaccine availability.
If I had the smallpox vaccine, am I protected from mpox?
- Mpox and smallpox are in the same family of viruses.
- According to the CDC, since mpox is closely related to the virus that causes smallpox, the smallpox vaccine can protect you from getting mpox.
However, if you have been exposed to mpox and it has been three years or more since your smallpox vaccine, you should obtain the mpox vaccine. The Jynneos vaccine has been FDA-approved for mpox.
How are vaccine doses allocated to local health jurisdictions (LHJ) in California?
The CDPH allocates a certain number of doses per LHJ, based on certain criteria, which are used to distribute the limited number of mpox vaccines to LHJs.
How protected am I after getting the vaccine?
Mpox vaccines are thought to be effective at protecting people against mpox or making symptoms less severe when given before or soon after exposure to mpox. Initial studies have shown some protection even from a single dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine, however a person is not considered fully vaccinated until they have received 2 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine.

But don't wait for an exposure to start the 2-dose series. Receiving both vaccine doses at the proper time gives your immune system the best chance to prevent or reduce the severity of a later exposure.

Even after receiving 2 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine, everyone is still recommended to take additional measures to protect against catching or spreading mpox and to isolate at home when they have a rash or other symptoms until they have confirmed whether or not they have mpox.

CDPH will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the JYNNEOS vaccine during the current outbreak.

Click here for additional FAQs about mpox.