• By Todd Luck
• Posted Friday, October 28, 2022

Monkeypox vaccine available for more higher risk individuals

The vaccine is currently available at the Forsyth County Department of Public Health by appointment only, for the following individuals:

• Anyone who had close contact in the past two weeks with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox
• Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, or transgender individuals, who are sexually active
• People who have had sexual contact with gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, or transgender individuals in the past 90 days
• People living with HIV, or taking medication to prevent HIV (PrEP), or who were diagnosed with syphilis in the past 90 days
• People who have had any of the following in the past 6 months: sex at a commercial sex venue or sex in association with a large public event
• sexual partners of people with the above risks
• People who anticipate experiencing the above risks

Appointments can be made by calling 336-703-3100.

There are currently multiple confirmed cases of monkeypox in Forsyth County. For the latest monkeypox case count, click here.

The monkeypox rash may initially appear similar to pimples, blisters, or raised bumps that appear on the face, inside the mouth or other parts of the body, like hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus and may be accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. The rash may be painful and itchy, and will go through several stages before healing, including scabs.

People with a rash that looks like monkeypox should contact their healthcare provider. Close contacts to a known monkeypox case with no symptoms should contact their local health department.

While early cases of monkeypox are heavily concentrated among men who have sex with men, anyone can contract the virus. Monkeypox is spread through:

• direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
• respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
• touching items (such as clothing or linens) previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids

The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks and is rarely fatal.