For New Jersey residents with known exposure to a person with mpox, the two-dose regimen for preventing mpox continues to be available through their local health department.

People who don’t have a known exposure, but have been in or may be in situations with a higher risk of exposure are eligible to receive the vaccine through what is known as Expanded Vaccination.

NJDOH receives mpox vaccines from the federal government and they are provided at no cost to eligible people.

Who can get vaccinated

Post-Exposure Prophlylaxis (Contact your local health department to coordinate vaccination)

• People who have known or suspected exposure to someone with mpox in the past two weeks
• People who had a sex partner in the past two weeks who was diagnosed with mpox

Expanded Vaccination (Make an appointment at a vaccine location)

• People who are gay, bisexual, or other men who has sex with men, or a transgender, non-binary, or gender-diverse person who in the past 6 months has had any of the following:
  
  • A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmittted diseases (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis)
  • More than one sex partner
• People who have had any of the following in the past 6 months:
  • Sex at a commercial sex venue
  • Sex related to a large commercial event in a geographic area (city or county for example) where mpox virus transmission is occurring
  • Sex in exchange for money or other items
• People who have a sex partner with any of the above risks
• People who anticipate experiencingany of  the above risks
• People who have HIV or other causes of immune suppression and have had recent or anticipate future risk of mpox exposure from any of the above scenarios
• People who work in settings where they may be exposed to mpox*
  • People who work with orthopoxviruses in a laboratory

*Consult with your local health department

*People at risk for occupational exposure to orthopoxviruses include research laboratory personnel working with orthopoxviruses, clinical laboratory personnel performing diagnostic testing for orthopoxviruses, and orthopoxvirus and health care worker response teams designated by appropriate public health and antiterror authorities. (see ACIP recommendations)

 

About the vaccines

JYNNEOS

The preferred vaccine to prevent mpox is JYNNEOS

JYNNEOS is a two-dose vaccine administered 28 days (4 weeks) apart.

It takes 14 days after getting the second dose of JYNNEOS for its immune protection to reach its maximum.

People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine.

JYNNEOS infographic 

JYNNEOS Frequently Asked Questions 

ACAM2000

The ACAM2000 vaccine is a single-dose alternative to JYNNEOS.

ACAM2000 takes four weeks after vaccination for its immune protection to reach its maximum.

ACAM2000 has the potential for more side effects and adverse events than JYNNEOS. It is not recommended for people with severely weakened immune systems and several other conditions.

Fully vaccinated people are still recommended to protect themselves against mpox and to isolate at home in case of symptoms.

Additional vaccine information:

• Mpox Vaccine Information for the Public UPDATED 11/30/2022
• JYNNEOS Vaccine Information Statement
• ACAM2000 Medication Guide
• Mpox and Smallpox Vaccine Guidance (CDC)