Mpox: Vaccine Information
Two vaccines are available for preventing mpox infection in the United States: JYNNEOS (Imvamune or Imvanex) and ACAM2000.
JYNNEOS is the preferred vaccine for the current outbreak of mpox.
Vaccine supply for JYNNEOS is increasing in the United States but may be limited in some areas.
In Wisconsin, JYNNEOS is currently available for the following people:
- Known close contacts who are identified by public health, and
- People with certain risk factors who are more likely to have been recently exposed to mpox, even if they have not had documented exposure to someone with confirmed mpox.
JYNNEOS
Who can get the JYNNEOS vaccine?
The Department of Health Services (DHS) is currently following the CDC’s recommendation to prioritize the JYNNEOS vaccine for people at the highest risk of infection.
JYNNEOS vaccine is currently available in Wisconsin for the following people:
- Known contacts who are identified by public health through case investigation, contact tracing, and risk exposure assessments
- Presumed contacts who may meet the following criteria:
- People who know that a sexual partner in the past 14 days was diagnosed with mpox.
- People considered to have elevated risk of exposure to mpox in the future:
- Gay men, bisexual men, trans men and women, any men who have sex with men, and gender non-conforming/non-binary individuals who:
- Have recently had multiple or anonymous sex partners. This may include people living with HIV and people who take HIV pre-exposure because of increased risk of sexually transmitted infections.
- Have new diagnosis of one or more nationally reportable sexually transmitted diseases (for example, acute HIV, chancroid, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis).
- People who attended or had sex at a commercial sex venue or an event or venue where there was known mpox transmission or exposure.
- Sexual partners of people with the above risks.
- People who anticipate experiencing the above risks.
- Gay men, bisexual men, trans men and women, any men who have sex with men, and gender non-conforming/non-binary individuals who:
- People in certain occupational exposure risk groups:
- Clinical laboratory personnel who perform testing to diagnose orthopoxviruses, including those who use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for diagnosis of orthopoxviruses, including mpox virus.
- Research laboratory workers who directly handle cultures or animals contaminated or infected with orthopoxviruses that infect humans, including mpox virus, replication-competent Vaccinia virus, or recombinant Vaccinia viruses derived from replication-competent Vaccinia virus strains. Laboratory staff working with lesion swabs that may contain orthopoxviruses. This includes staff that handle swabs of lesions from suspect mpox cases or test for things other than orthopoxviruses, including Varicella zoster virus or Herpes virus. This also includes microbiologists that do standard bacterial cultures from these lesion swabs.
- Certain health care providers working in sexual health clinics or other specialty settings directly caring for patients with sexually transmitted infections.
Where can I get vaccinated?
If you are eligible for the mpox vaccine, DHS encourages you to contact your local or tribal health department (LTHD). DHS continues to work directly with LTHDs to supply vaccine for people who had a known exposure to someone with mpox and Wisconsinites who meet the eligibility criteria.
The JYNNEOS vaccine is also available by appointment at designated health care locations for eligible people. Please see below for a list of vaccinators accepting appointments from the public. If you meet the current eligibility requirements for vaccination and are unable to make an appointment at one of these locations, contact your LTHD for assistance connecting with a vaccinator.
| Location | Website/Contact Information |
|---|---|
| Ashland County Health Department | Ashland County Health Department website |
| Bayfield County Health Department | Bayfield County Health Department website |
| Brown County Public Health | Brown County Public Health website |
| Calumet County Public Health | Calumet County Public Health |
| Chippewa County Department of Public Health | Chippewa County Department of Public Health website |
| City of Appleton Health Department | City of Appleton Health Department website |
| City of Milwaukee Health Department - Menomonee Valley Site (drive-thru) | City of Milwaukee Health Department website |
| City of Racine Public Health Department | City of Racine Public Health Department website |
| Columbia County Division of Public Health | Columbia County Division of Public Health website |
| Cudahy Health Department | Cudahy Health Department website |
| De Pere Health Department | De Pere Health Department website |
| Dodge County Public Health | Dodge County Public Health website |
| Door County Public Health | Door County Public Health website |
| Eau Claire City-County Health Department | Eau Claire City-County Health Department website |
| Fond du Lac County Health Department | Fond du Lac County Health Department website |
| Froedtert Memorial Hospital | Froedtert Memorial Hospital website |
| Froedtert (Pleasant Valley) West Bend Hospital | Froedtert Memorial Hospital website |
| Froedtert/Medical College of Wisconsin Inclusion Clinic | Froedtert Medical College of Wisconsin Inclusion Clinic website |
| Grant County Health Department | Grant County Health Department website |
| Green County Health Department | Green County Health Department website |
| Gundersen Health - La Crosse Clinic | Gundersen Health website |
| Health Connections, Inc. | Health Connections website |
| Ho Chunk Nation Black River Falls | Ho Chunk Nation Black River Falls website |
| Holton Street Clinic | Holton Street Clinic website |
| Iowa County Health Department | Iowa County Health Department website |
| Jackson County Public Health | Jackson County Public Health website |
| Jefferson County Health Department | Jefferson County Health Department |
| Kenosha County Division of Health | Kenosha County Division of Health website |
| La Crosse County Health Department | La Crosse County Health Department |
| Lafayette County Health Department | Lafayette County Health Department website |
| Lincoln County Health Department | Lincoln County Health Department website |
| Manitowoc County Health Department | Manitowoc County Health Department |
| Marathon County Health Department | Marathon County Health Department |
| Marshfield Clinic Health Center | For scheduling appointments: 1-800-549-3174, option 1 |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Minocqua | For scheduling appointments: 1-800-549-3174, option 1 |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Rice Lake Medical Offices | For scheduling appointments: 1-800-549-3174, option 1 |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Weston Medical Offices | For scheduling appointments: 1-800-549-3174, option 1 |
| Mayo Health System - Luther Campus | Mayo Health System website |
| Milwaukee Health Services - MLK Clinic | Milwaukee Health Services website |
| Monroe County Health Department | Monroe County Health Department |
| North Shore Health Department | North Shore Health Department website |
| Oneida County Health Department | Oneida County Health Department website |
| Outreach Community Health Center | Outreach Community Health Center website |
| Pierce County Public Health | Pierce County Public Health website |
| Portage County Public Health | Portage County Public Health website |
| Public Health Madison Dane County - E Washington Ave and Park St. | Public Health Madison Dane County website |
| Racine County Public Health Division | Racine County Public Health Division |
| Richland County Health Department | Richland County Health Department |
| Rock County Public Health Department | Rock County Public Health Department website |
| Rusk County Public Health | Rusk County Public Health website |
| Sauk County Health Department | Sauk County Health Department website |
| Sheboygan County Public Health | Sheboygan County Public Health |
| UW Health - West Towne Clinic | 608-720-3355 |
| Vilas County Health Department | Vilas County Health Department website |
| Vivent Health - Green Bay | Vivent Health - Green Bay website |
| Vivent Health - Kenosha | Vivent Health - Kenosha website |
| Vivent Health - Madison | Vivent Health - Madison website |
| Vivent Health - Milwaukee | Vivent Health - Milwaukee website |
| Watertown Department of Public Health | Watertown Department of Public Health website |
| Washburn County Health Department | Washburn County Health Department |
| Washington-Ozaukee Health Department | Washington-Ozaukee Health Department website |
| Waukesha County Public Health | Waukesha County Public Health website |
| Waupaca County Public Health | Waupaca County Public Health website |
| West Allis Health Department | West Allis Health Department website |
| Winnebago County Health Department | Winnebago County Health Department website |
| Wood County Health Department | Wood County Health Department website |
*DHS will continue to keep this list updated. If you are a JYNNEOS provider and would like to be added or would like changes to be made, please email DHSMonkeypoxVaccine@dhs.wisconsin.gov
DHS encourages individuals to wait patiently, take precautions to prevent disease, and continue to check their eligibility status. Due to an extremely limited vaccine supply, vaccine is being prioritized for those most at risk for severe disease. People who are known contacts of someone with mpox or who have another high-risk exposure remain the highest priority. Vaccine is also being prioritized for people with HIV or other conditions that contribute to a weakened immune system.
If you do not have access to a health care provider, 211 Wisconsin can provide free, confidential support finding one near you. If you do not have access to a health care provider, dial 211 or 877-947-2211, or text your ZIP code to 898-211. Find additional resources online at 211Wisconsin.org.
How is it administered?
The JYNNEOS vaccine is a two-dose vaccine series. The two doses are administered four weeks apart for maximum effectiveness. Someone who receives the JYNNEOS vaccine is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second dose.
- People 18 years and older can receive JYNNEOS as either an injection between the skin (intradermally) or beneath the skin (subcutaneously).
- People under the age of 18 can receive JYNNEOS only as an injection beneath the skin (subcutaneously).
The JYNNEOS vaccine does not cause smallpox, mpox, or any other disease. Even after getting vaccinated, it is important to continue to take steps to protect yourself from getting sick with mpox. Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact, including intimate contact, with someone who has mpox.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. To help prevent the onset of disease, JYNNEOS should be administered within four days from the date of exposure to the mpox virus. If the vaccine is administered between four to 14 days after the date of exposure, getting vaccinated may help reduce the severity of symptoms associated with mpox infection.
People should speak with a health care provider to discuss if the JYNNEOS vaccine is safe for them if they have had:
- An allergic reaction to a previous dose of JYNNOES, OR
- An allergic reaction to an ingredient (gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, egg protein, benzonase).
People should also talk to a health care provider about getting vaccinated if they have any of the following conditions:
- Severe, life-threatening allergies.
- Are pregnant, think they can be pregnant, or breastfeeding.
- Have a weakened immune system.
The JYNNEOS vaccine is a two-dose vaccine series. The two doses are administered four weeks apart for maximum effectiveness. Someone who receives the JYNNEOS vaccine is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second dose.
- People 18 years and older can receive JYNNEOS as either an injection between the skin (intradermally) or beneath the skin (subcutaneously).
- People under the age of 18 can receive JYNNEOS only as an injection beneath the skin (subcutaneously).
The JYNNEOS vaccine does not cause smallpox, mpox, or any other disease. Even after getting vaccinated, it is important to continue to take steps to protect yourself from getting sick with mpox. Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact, including intimate contact, with someone who has mpox.
Providers cannot charge a patient a fee for the vaccine itself. However, providers may charge the patient an administration fee or seek appropriate reimbursement from the program or plan that covers administration fee for the mpox vaccine, such as private insurance or Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement. Providers must administer JYNNEOS at no cost to the recipient regardless of the vaccine recipient’s ability to pay administration fees.
It is unknown if pregnant people are more susceptible to mpox infection or more severe disease during pregnancy. However, the mpox virus can be transmitted to the unborn baby and to the newborn through close contact during and after birth.
The JYNNEOS vaccine should be offered to people who are pregnant or breastfeeding if they are exposed to mpox. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding are encouraged to talk with a health care provider about the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated.
Most people who receive the JYNNEOS vaccine will have only minor reactions like pain, redness, swelling, and itching at the injection site. In rare circumstances, people may experience muscle pain, headache, tiredness, nausea, chills, and fever.
Call 911 immediately or go to the nearest hospital if you have signs of an allergic reaction. Signs of an allergic reaction may include:
- Hives
- Swelling of the face or throat
- Difficulty breathing
- Increased heartbeat
- Dizziness
Any adverse reaction after getting vaccinated should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). In most cases, a health care provider will report the incident to VAERS. However, you can choose to report the incident yourself by visiting the VAERS website or calling 800-822-7967.
VAERS staff do not provide medical advice and can only assist with reporting adverse reactions.
ACAM2000
ACAM2000 is also authorized by the U.S Food and Drug Administration to prevent mpox infection. DHS will not be using the ACAM2000 vaccine. ACAM2000 carries a greater risk of certain serious side effects than JYNNEOS. ACAM2000 should not be given to:
- People with weakened immune systems,
- People with certain skin conditions such as eczema,
- People heart disease, or
- People who are pregnant, think they are pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Questions about mpox? Contact us! Phone: 608-267-9003 | Fax: 608-261-497
Wisconsin Local Health Departments – Regional offices – Tribal agencies