Monkeypox Information
About monkeypox
Information if you are at risk for monkeypox or may have been exposed
Information about monkeypox vaccines at Lovell FHCC
About Monkeypox:
Monkeypox is a viral infection with a painful or uncomfortable rash or sores. Symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, sore throat, congestion, cough, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a rash or sores. Some people only get a small rash while others may have all these symptoms. The rash can be like little pimples or blisters and may occur in and around the mouth and on the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus. The rash may be painful or itchy. Some people may get only a fever or body aches first and get the rash one to four days later.
At this time, data suggest that gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men make up the majority of cases in the current monkeypox outbreak. However, anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, who has been in close, personal contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk. Take steps to prevent getting monkeypox. If you have any symptoms of monkeypox, talk to your healthcare provider.
Information if you are at risk for monkeypox or may have been exposed
If you have of the above symptoms, do not have close physical contact with others, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex. Do not share towels, utensils, cups, or toothbrushes, and do not allow others to touch your clothing or bed sheets. You may need to isolate in a separate part of the house to protect others within the household.
If you have symptoms or think you have been exposed to monkeypox, contact your doctor for guidance, or the appropriate nurse advice line:
- Veteran patients: 888-598-7793
- TRICARE DoD Nurse Advice Line: 1-800-TRICARE or 1-800-874-2273, Option 1
Information about monkeypox vaccines at Lovell FHCC
Eligibility
Veterans and TRICARE beneficiaries who meet at least one of the following criteria are eligible to receive the JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine:-Known contacts who are identified by public health via case investigation, contact tracing and risk exposure assessments.
-Presumed contacts who may meet the following criteria:
1)People who know that a sexual partner in the past 14 days was diagnosed with monkeypox.
2)Gay men, bisexual men, trans men and women, any men who have sex with men, and gender non-conforming/non-binary individuals, who have had multiple sexual partners in the last 14 days.
People considered to have elevated risk of exposure to monkeypox in the future:
1)Gay men, bisexual men, trans men and women, any men who have sex with men, and gender non-conforming/non-binary individuals who:
a.Expect to have multiple or anonymous sex partners. This may include people living with HIV and people who take HIV PrEP because of increased risk of sexually-transmitted infections.
b.Have new diagnosis of one or more nationally reportable sexually transmitted diseases (i.e., acute HIV, chancroid, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis).
2)People who attended or had sex at a commercial sex venue or an event or venue where there was known monkeypox transmission or exposure.
3)Sexual partners of people with the above risks.
4)People who anticipate experiencing the above risks.
-People in certain occupational exposure risk groups
1)Clinical laboratory personnel who perform testing to diagnose orthopoxviruses, including those who use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for diagnosis of orthopoxviruses, including Monkeypox virus.
2)Research laboratory workers who directly handle cultures or animals contaminated or infected with orthopoxviruses that infect humans, including Monkeypox virus, replication-competent Vaccinia virus, or recombinant Vaccinia viruses derived from replication-competent Vaccinia virus strains.
3)Laboratory staff working with lesion swabs that may contain orthopoxviruses. This includes staff that handle swabs of lesions from suspect monkeypox 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.
4)Certain health care providers working in sexual health clinics or other specialty settings directly caring for patients with sexually transmitted infections.
If you have questions about your eligibility for the vaccine, please discuss this with your medical provider.
Scheduling
Veterans, DoD Retirees, and DoD (18 years of age and older) who fall into one of the above eligibility categories* and would like to get the JYNNEOS vaccine, can call the VA Call Center Line at 224-610-3899 for an appointment. Active Duty Staff and DoD Beneficiaries under the age of 18 who fall into one of the above eligibility categories, and would like to get the JYNNEOS vaccine, can call the DoD Call Center Line at 1-800-941-4501 for an appointment.
*Veterans and DoD beneficiaries who fall into one of the above eligibility categories for the monkeypox vaccine should have been informed via robocall. All other patients should contact their primary care provider for guidance and vaccine orders.
