MPOX (Monkeypox)

Vaccine Access at SHCS

If you are concerned about a recent high-risk exposure to mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) please contact SHCS for a telehealth provider appointment via the Health e-Messaging portal or by calling 530-752-2349. If you have already been exposed, getting vaccinated as soon as possible after exposure to someone with mpox (ideally within 4 days) may help prevent the disease, or make it less severe.

Who Is Eligible for a Vaccine?

Per California Department of Public Health guidance (last updated 11/15/2022), specific eligibility criteria for the vaccine have been removed. The mpox vaccine is now available to:

any person who may be at risk for mpox, and/or
any person who requests mpox vaccination

While vaccine supply has increased, it is still important that the following groups have priority access to the mpox vaccine:

Anyone living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Any man or trans person who has sex with men or trans persons
Gay, bisexual, and other cisgender or transgender men who have sex with men, and transgender or nonbinary people (including adolescents who fall into any of the aforementioned categories) who in the past 6 months:
- Have had a new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis); or
- More than one sex partner
People who use or are eligible for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
Sex workers
People who have had any of the following in the past 6 months:
- Sex at a commercial sex venue; or
- Sex in association with a large public event in a geographic area where mpox transmission is occurring.
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 who have had mpox infection
People who have been diagnosed with a bacterial sexually transmitted infection (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) in the past 3 months
People who anticipate experiencing the above risks

How to Make a Vaccine Appointment

Please call the appointment desk at 530-752-2349 to schedule an mpox (Jynneos) vaccination appointment with a nurse.

What Is Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox)?

Mpox is a rare disease identified in 1958 that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, which is related to the smallpox virus. While generally less severe and much less contagious than smallpox, mpox can be a serious illness. It spreads from infected humans, animals, and materials contaminated with the virus but primarily through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact with people who have mpox symptoms, such as rash and sores. There is a growing body of scientific evidence that shows some people can spread mpox virus one to four days before their symptoms appear. However, at this time there is no evidence that people who never develop symptoms have spread mpox virus to someone else.

There are currently no treatments specifically for mpox. However, mpox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, which means that antiviral drugs developed to protect against smallpox, such as tecovirimat (TPOXX), may be used to treat mpox. This treatment may be recommended for people who are more likely to get severely ill, like patients with weakened immune systems, or people with complications from the infection or symptoms not controlled with supportive care.

How Do You Get Mpox?

Anyone can get mpox after having close physical contact with someone who has the infection, especially contact with infected lesions (sores) and bodily fluids.

Mpox spreads primarily through direct contact with infectious sores, scabs, or body fluids, including during sex, as well as activities like kissing, hugging, massaging, and cuddling.

Mpox can potentially spread through touching materials used by a person with mpox that haven’t been cleaned, such as heavily contaminated clothing and bedding.

It can also spread by respiratory secretions (talking, coughing, sneezing, breathing) during prolonged, close, face-to-face contact.

Mpox can be spread through:

Direct skin-to-skin contact with rash lesions
Sexual/intimate contact, including kissing
Living in a house and sharing a bed with someone
Sharing towels or unwashed clothing
Respiratory secretions through prolonged face-to-face interactions (the type that mainly happen when living with someone or caring for someone who has mpox)

Mpox is NOT spread through:

Casual conversations
Walking by someone with mpox, like in a grocery store

Scientists are still learning if mpox can be spread through:

Semen, vaginal fluids, stool and breastmilk,
Contact with people who have no symptoms (we think people with symptoms are most likely to spread it, but some people may have very mild illness and not know they are infected)

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Mpox?

Mpox symptoms usually start within 2 weeks (but can be up to 3 weeks) after exposure to the virus. Usually, people are only thought to be contagious when they have symptoms and until all sores, including scabs, have healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. This can take several weeks. Researchers are still trying to understand if the virus can spread from someone who has no symptoms.

People with mpox may experience all or only a few of these symptoms:

Mpox might start with symptoms like the flu, with fever, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and general body aches.
Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the person can develop a rash or sores. The sores will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing. They can look like pimples or blisters, and may be painful and itchy.
- The rash or sores may be located on or near the genitals (penis, testicles, labia, and vagina) or anus (butt) but could also be on other areas like the hands, feet, chest, and face. They may also be limited to one part of the body.

Most people with mpox will get the rash or sores. Some people have reported developing the rash or sores before (or without) the flu-like symptoms.

If you have mpox symptoms such as a new or unexplained rash, talk to a healthcare provider, even if you don't think you have had contact with someone who has mpox. Your provider may be able to offer treatments that are not specific to mpox, but may help to reduce your symptoms, like prescribed mouth rinses or topical gels or creams.

What Should You Do If You Are Exposed to Mpox or Experiencing Symptoms?

Contact a health care provider as soon as possible and let them know you have symptoms or have been exposed to mpox. Health care providers can provide testing and care for people who are diagnosed with mpox.

Healthcare providers and local health departments may also recommend a vaccine for those who are exposed to help prevent infection or decrease the seriousness of the illness.

How Do You Prevent Mpox (Monkeypox)?

There are number of ways to prevent the spread of mpox, including:

Always talk to your sexual partner(s) about any recent illness and being aware of new or unexplained sores or rashes on your body or your partner's body, including on the genitals and anus
Avoiding close contact, including sexual activity, with people with symptoms like sores or rashes
Practicing good hand hygiene
People who become infected should isolate until their symptoms are improving or have gone away completely. Rash should always be well covered until completely healed.
Using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (like a mask, gown and gloves) when caring for others with symptoms
Avoiding contact with infected materials contaminated with the virus
Avoiding contact with infected animals

Check out the list of resources at the bottom of this page for more tips and information.

What About Mpox Vaccines? (CDC)

There are currently two vaccines licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that are available for preventing mpox infection: JYNNEOS (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex) and ACAM2000.

The CDC advises that people mpox vaccine cane be given both to people with known or presumed exposure to mpox virus to prevent them from developing the disease. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP can also be given to people with certain risk factors and recent experiences that might make them more likely to have been exposed to mpox. PEP is most effective at preventing mpox if the vaccine is administered within 4 days of exposure. If given between 4–14 days after the date of exposure, vaccination may help reduce symptoms, but may not prevent the infection from developing.

The CDC also recommends vaccinating additional populations with risk factors for exposure to mpox virus. Disproportionately affected populations should remain the focus of the current vaccination efforts. When combined with other prevention measures, vaccination prior to exposure and PEP strategies might help control outbreaks by reducing transmission of mpox virus, preventing disease, or reducing disease severity.

For information about vaccine access and eligibility in your community, contact your local health department or make a telehealth appointment with your healthcare provider. To schedule an mpox vaccine appointment at SHCS, please call the appointment line at 530-752-2349.

What If You're Diagnosed with Mpox?

The first thing you should know is that you are still awesome, and have not done anything wrong. You still deserve to be treated with dignity and respect!

It is important that you follow the guidance given to you by your healthcare provider to keep yourself (and others) healthy.

If you have a rash and do not require hospitalization, isolate at home until your rash is fully resolved, scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.

Why Are Gay and Bisexual Cisgender Men Most Affected by the Current Mpox Outbreak?

First, people of any sexual orientation or gender identity can get mpox. Viruses do not have eyes, and mpox is not a “gay disease!”

With that said, infectious diseases are always able to spread more quickly in smaller social networks than larger ones – and the tightly-knit social network of gay and bisexual cis men is much smaller than the general population.

Although the recent outbreaks have occurred among gay and bisexual men, this is likely a result of coincidental contact with people who have mpox at one or more recent crowded LGBTQ-focused events – resulting in a cluster of cases within the community (UCLA GSSPI).

*If you are a gay or bisexual man, check out UCLA’s resource: What Gay and Bisexual Men Need to Know about Monkeypox.