Mpox vaccine
Who should get vaccinated
Public Health recommends the following people receive mpox vaccine:
- Person who has had skin to skin or other close contact with someone with mpox, and/or
- Gay or bisexual men, or any men or transgender/non-binary people who have sex with other men or transgender/non-binary people, and/or
- Persons of any gender or sexual orientation who engage in commercial and/or transactional sex (e.g., sex in exchange for money, shelter, food, or other goods or needs)
Booster or additional vaccine doses are not currently recommended for people who are already fully vaccinated (received 2 doses at least 28 days apart) or who have had mpox infection in the past.
Our staff will review current eligibility criteria with you to see if vaccination is recommended for you. Health officials do not currently recommend vaccination for members of the general public who are not at high risk of exposure to mpox.
Options if you are eligible for vaccine
- Contact your healthcare provider.
- If you don't have a provider or health insurance, you can contact Public Health's Access and Outreach program, 1-800-756-5437 to be connected to a medical provider.
- The Sexual Health Clinic at Harborview is also vaccinating people who are eligible for vaccine. Call the Sexual Health Clinic at 206-744-3590 to check availability.
- CVS
- Walgreens
Additional clinics
- Country Doctor Community Health Centers
Vaccinations available for current and new patients by appointment - Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center
Vaccinations available to current and new patients by appointment - Kelley-Ross, Capitol Hill and First Hill Pharmacy
Vaccinations available to current and new patients by appointment or walk-in - 400 E Pine St #100B, Seattle, WA 98122 (inside Seattle LGBTQ+ Center, also known as Gay City)
- 904 7th Ave #103, Seattle, WA 98104 (7th and Madison location, inside Optum, formerly known as Polyclinic)
- Phone: 206-641-7766
- Seattle Infectious Disease Clinic
Vaccine available by appointment only - Address: 509 Olive Way Ste 752 Seattle WA 98101
- Phone: 206-682-3444
Second doses of mpox vaccine
When should I get the second dose?
- Get the second dose of the two-dose vaccine at least four weeks after the first dose. Do not try to get a second dose early, as this may result in decreased effectiveness of the vaccine.
- You will start to build protection in the days and weeks after your first dose, but the vaccine won’t have its full effect until approximately two weeks after the second dose.
- This is an emerging outbreak, so we don’t yet know how much protection the vaccine can give. Please consider other recommendations, including decreasing the number of sex and intimate contact partners to protect yourself from monkeypox even if fully vaccinated.
If I received my first dose at a community vaccination event, am I able to get a second dose at the Sexual Health Clinic or another private provider?
- Yes, if you received the first dose at a community event more than 28 days ago, you may receive a second dose at the Sexual health Clinic at Harborview or another private provider if vaccines are available.
Current vaccine distribution
Public Health is working to distribute vaccine quickly and equitably. The health department is using multiple strategies to reach people at highest risk of recent exposure. This includes:
- Getting vaccine to healthcare providers and clinics that routinely provide care to people at high risk of exposure.
- Partnering with community-based organizations, healthcare providers, and businesses to reach people who may have less access.
We will continue to provide updates when we receive more vaccine supply.
About the vaccine
Mpox vaccine may help prevent disease or make it less severe.
- CDC recommends that people get the vaccine within 4 days of being exposed for the best chance of preventing mpox. If vaccine is given within a couple weeks of exposure, it can still help reduce the severity of symptoms but may not prevent onset of disease.
- Read the CDC's Vaccine Information Statement, "Smallpox/Monkeypox Vaccine (JYNNEOS™): What You Need to Know"