City health officials have issued new guidance about the Monkeypox illness and the availability of a new vaccination option after 41 new cases were diagnosed last week across the state. A lower dose, two-shot vaccine is now being based on recommendations from the CDC and FDA.
People in Massachusetts can get the vaccine if they have known contacts identified by public health via case investigation, contact tracing, and risk exposure assessments (this may include sexual partners, household contacts, and healthcare workers); or if they know that a sexual partner in the past 14 days was diagnosed with monkeypox or had multiple sexual partners in the past two weeks in “a jurisdiction with known monkeypox.”
Monkeypox often spreads through direct skin to skin contact with a monkeypox rash, sores, or scabs. It can also spread through contact with surfaces that have been exposed to the monkeypox virus. Anyone who comes in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk for becoming infected.
“I’m optimistic that the new approach to monkeypox vaccination will allow us to vaccinate more people, help ensure vaccines are distributed equitably, and ultimately support our efforts to control this outbreak,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “Getting vaccinated against monkeypox is an effective way to prevent disease. I strongly encourage all residents who are eligible for vaccination to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.”
The vaccine is currently available at the following locations in Boston by appointment only:
•Boston Medical Center: Register for an appointment directly at bmc.org/monkeypox or call 617-414-2803 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m.- and 5 p.m.
• Codman Square Health Center: Please register for an appointment directly at codman.org/medical-service/x-clinic or call617-822-8271 Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 8:30 PM. This site also offers vaccine appointments on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Additional locations can be found at mass.gov/monkeypoxvaccine.
