Cook County Department of Public Health Receives Monkeypox Vaccine Doses are for residents and health workers in suburban Cook County

Cook County, Ill.— Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) has received 86 doses of the JYNNEOS monkeypox (MPX) vaccine. The two-dose regimen is enough to treat 43 people. JYNNEOS is in limited supply and thus being prioritized for use as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for individuals with known or suspected contact with monkeypox cases. Currently, there are 700 confirmed MPX cases in the U.S., according to CDC. This includes 91 cases in Illinois and 7 cases (plus 12 contacts) in CCDPH’s jurisdiction of suburban Cook County.

At this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend widespread vaccination against monkeypox. However, depending on the demand and vaccine availability, CCDPH is considering expanding vaccinations to those with a higher-than-normal risk of exposure, including close personal contacts of people with monkeypox, laboratory workers who test for monkeypox, and gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men.

Monkeypox is a rare, but potentially serious viral illness, that belongs to the orthopoxvirus family, which includes smallpox. Once infected, people usually have flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, chills, headache, muscle aches), swelling of the lymph nodes, and a characteristic rash on the face and body. Sometimes people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. People with monkeypox are contagious from the time they have symptoms until the rash fully heals. Most infections last 2-to-4 weeks.

If you have symptoms particularly a rash consistent with monkeypox (even if you do not think you were in contact with anyone with monkeypox), or if you have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox:

A person who is sick with monkeypox should isolate at home. Someone with an active rash or other symptoms should be in a separate room or area from other family members and pets when possible and contact their healthcare provider right away. Visit https://cookcountypublichealth.org/communicable-diseases/monkeypox/ to learn more about monkeypox.

Address :Cook County Department of Public Health Administrative Office, 7556 Jackson Boulevard Forest Park, IL 60130