Mpox Information 

Please check this page for updates.

CDC Recommendation: In support of the November 28, 2022 recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health and Human Services (HHS), CDC will adopt “Mpox” as the term used to refer to monkeypox disease.

Human monkeypox was given its name in 1958, before the publication of WHO’s best practices in naming diseases was published in 2015. According to the WHO’s best practices, new disease names should be given with the aim to minimize unnecessary negative impact of names on trade, travel, tourism, or animal welfare, and avoid causing offense to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional, or ethnic groups.

What is Mpox?

Mpox is a rare disease caused by the mpox virus. It can make you sick including a rash or sores (pox), often with an earlier flu-like illness. Mpox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to­ skin contact.

Mpox can spread through:

•   Direct contact with mpox rash, sores or scabs
•   Contact with objects, clothing, bedding, towels, or surfaces used by someone with mpox
•   Respiratory droplets or oral fluids from a person with mpox
•   Mpox can spread from the time symptoms start until all sores have healed, which can take several weeks

Symptoms

•   Early flu-like symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion
•   Rash appears within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after fever, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body
•   Illness usually lasts 2–4 weeks

The Chicago healthcare providers below have received doses of vaccine for people who meet eligibility criteria; however, inclusion on this list does not mean that the providers have currently available doses or appointments. As supply of vaccine increases, these providers may receive additional doses and additional providers will be added to the list. 

At these locations, it is highly recommended that you make an appointment:

CDPH Lakeview Clinic
getvaxchi.chicago.gov 

CDPH Austin Clinic
getvaxchi.chicago.gov 

CDPH Roseland
getvaxchi.chicago.gov 

Howard Brown Health (Clark, Sheridan, 63rd, 55th)
773-388-1600 

The latest

Vaccine Eligibility: Anyone living in Chicago and Illinois, including students enrolled in Chicago’s universities/colleges, who meet one of the following criteria AND have not previously been infected with MPX, is recommended to complete the two-dose series of MPV JYNNEOS vaccine as recommended:

The MPV Jynneos vaccine is available to anyone living in Illinois who:

♦Had skin-to-skin or intimate contact (e.g., household members with close physical contact or intimate partners) with someone diagnosed with MPX.

♦Exchanges good or services for sex.

♦Lives with HIV, especially persons with uncontrolled or advanced HIV disease.

♦Is eligible for or is currently taking PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help prevent infection with HIV.

OR 

♦Is a sexually active bisexual, gay and other same gender-loving men, or sexually active transgender individuals.

OR 

♦Sexual partners of those included above or individuals who anticipate meeting criteria above in the future.

♦Especially consider getting vaccinated if you: Met recent partners through online applications or social media platforms (such as Grindr, Tinder or Scruff), or at clubs, raves, sex parties, saunas.

♦Were diagnosed with sexually transmitted infection(s) (STI) in past 6 months.

♦We are still learning about how well the vaccine can protect you. Even after getting vaccinated, you should still take precautions, especially if you are at high-risk for severe illness from monkeypox.

Do you want to access a record of your mpox vaccination?
Your vaccination will be recorded in an Illinois vaccination registry called I-CARE that is accessible to hospitals and healthcare providers. If you want access to a record of your vaccination, follow these steps:

1. Go to idphportal.illinois.gov/s/
2. Create an account
3. View your vaccination records, which are stored in the I-CARE system.