Mpox and People with HIV

Mpox Vaccines: Two Doses Are Better Than One!

Vaccination is an important tool in keeping you healthy and stopping the spread of mpox.

JYNNEOS is a 2-dose vaccine developed to protect against mpox and smallpox. It is safe and effective for people with HIV. Two doses of the vaccine provide the best protection against mpox. The second dose should be given 4 weeks after the first dose.

WATCHExit Disclaimer: Dancer and performer Dashaun Wesley joins the CDC Foundation to help spread the word about the mpox vaccine and how to keep communities safe.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

CDC recommends vaccination if:

• You had known or suspected exposure to someone with mpox
• You had a sex partner in the past 2 weeks who was diagnosed with mpox
• You are a gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men or a transgender, nonbinary, or gender-diverse person who in the past 6 months has had any of the following:
  • A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis)
  • More than one sex partner
• You have had any of the following in the past 6 months:
  • Sex at a commercial sex venue (like a sex club or bathhouse)
  • Sex related to a large commercial event or in a geographic area (city or county for example) where mpox virus transmission is occurring
• You have a sex partner with any of the above risks
• You anticipate experiencing any of the above scenarios
• If you are traveling to a country with a clade I mpox outbreak and anticipate any of the following activities during travel, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation:
  • Sex with a new partner
  • Sex at a commercial sex venue (e.g., a sex club or bathhouse)
  • Sex in exchange for money, goods, drugs, or other trade
  • Sex in association with a large public event (e.g., a rave, party, or festival)
• You are at risk for occupational exposure to orthopoxviruses (e.g., certain people who work in a laboratory or a healthcare facility).

You should NOT get the vaccine if:

You had a severe allergic reaction (such as anaphylaxis) after getting a previous dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine or to a vaccine component.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics gentamicin or ciprofloxacin, or chicken or egg protein.

Questions? If you have HIV, see a healthcare provider to discuss if the mpox vaccine is right for you.

Mpox and HIV: What’s the Connection?

• What is mpox? Mpox is a rare disease caused by infection with the mpox virus. This virus is part of the same family of viruses as the variola virus, which causes smallpox. Mpox and smallpox have similar symptoms, but mpox has milder symptoms, and it is rarely fatal. Mpox is not related to chickenpox.
• Does having HIV increase your chances of getting mpox? According to CDC, researchers don’t know if having HIV increases your chances of getting mpox if you’re exposed to the mpox virus. However, they do know that people with advanced HIV (those who are immunocompromised) are more likely to be hospitalized and possibly die if they get mpox than people without HIV.
• How can I protect myself from mpox? If you have HIV, you should follow the same recommendations as everyone else to protect yourself from mpox, including getting vaccinated.
• How can I stay healthy? If you have HIV, taking your HIV medication as prescribed and keeping an undetectable viral load are the best things you can do to stay healthy. Doing so also prevents you from sexually transmitting HIV to your HIV-negative partner. Learn more about how to live well with HIV.
• Can I take mpox treatment? Most people with mpox recover fully within 2 to 4 weeks without special medicines. There are ways to manage your symptoms. Read about what to do if you get sick.
  • What about tecovirimat? Tecovirimat (TPOXX or ST-246) is an antiviral drug stockpiled for smallpox preparedness. Its use for treating infections caused by viruses related to the smallpox virus, including monkeypox virus, is investigational. Initial results from two randomized clinical trials found that this drug was safe but didn't reduce the time to resolution of mpox lesions. The findings from these clinical trials suggest that most people with mpox who do not have severe disease or risk factors for severe disease (e.g., severe immunocompromise) will recover with supportive care and pain management. However, the role of tecovirimat in the treatment of mpox in people who are severely immunocompromised, including those with advanced HIV, has not been determined and requires additional clinical trials. If you have advanced HIV (CD4 < 200 cells/mm3) or are otherwise severely immunocompromised, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should consider tecovirimat. (Clinicians: Read more.)
• What if I’m on HIV PrEP or take HIV PEP? If you don’t have HIV but have been prescribed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent HIV, keep taking your medicine as prescribed. PrEP and PEP are still effective even if you have mpox.

Learn more! Visit CDC’s Mpox and HIV.

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Get the Facts About Mpox and HIV

Looking for more information about mpox? It’s important to separate myths from facts.

Visit CDC’s mpox site for the latest information about mpox symptoms, how it spreads, prevention, vaccines, treatment, and more.

Read CDC’s FAQ about mpox and HIV.

Fact sheets:

• Mpox and Safer Sex
• Mpox Vaccines: Do You Need One?

Help others locate mpox vaccines: Embed CDC’s mpox vaccine locator on your site and register your eligible organization to be included in search results.