VACCINE CLINIC
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is hosting a free vaccine clinic for monkeypox in Grand Junction:
- Pride Fest on Sunday, September 11th
- 1pm – 6pm
- Main St. and 6th St.
- Register here.
Those who receive their first dose of the vaccine at Pride Fest will be able to get their second dose at Mesa County Public Health.
VACCINE CRITERIA
People who have been exposed to monkeypox or are at high risk for exposure can get a vaccine called Jynneos. Getting the vaccine lowers the chance of getting monkeypox after someone has been exposed. Those who qualify for the vaccine include:
- Anyone (any sexual orientation or gender identity) who has had close physical contact with someone who has monkeypox in the last 14 days.
- Anyone (any sexual orientation or gender identity) who:
○ Has had multiple sexual partners in the last 14 days
○ Has had sexual partners they did not previously know in the last 14 days
○ Has had close physical contact with other people in a venue where anonymous or group sex may occur in the last 14 days
○ Was diagnosed with gonorrhea or syphilis in the past three months
○ Who already uses or is eligible for HIV PrEP (medication to prevent HIV, e.g.Truvada or Descovy or Apretude)
○ Who engages in commercial and/or transactional sex (e.g. sex in exchange for money, shelter, food, and other goods or needs)
- Anyone (any sexual orientation or gender identity) identified by public health as a known high-risk contact of someone who has monkeypox.
LOCAL & STATE SITUATION
To date, one person in Mesa County has tested positive for monkeypox. The person was an out of town traveler who does not reside in Colorado.
There are 262 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Colorado.
BACKGROUND
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox transmission typically requires skin-to-skin contact, direct contact with body fluids, or prolonged face-to-face contact.
Monkeypox can look like syphilis, herpes, blisters, or acne. If you have a new rash or bumps, have it checked out by a medical provider even if you don’t think you had contact with someone who has monkeypox. Your medical provider can recommend testing if they decide the rash is consistent with monkeypox.
Symptoms are similar to smallpox, but less severe. They begin with flu-like symptoms like fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. A rash that can look like pimples or blisters may appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body. It is rarely fatal. Most people recover in two to four weeks.