The Mississippi State Department of Health has announced a new way to schedule monkeypox vaccination appointments.
Eligible individuals can now make their own appointments through the department’s Monkeypox Vaccine Scheduler by visiting monkeypoxvaccine.msdh.ms.gov. Both first and second-dose appointments can be made through the online scheduler.
“Vaccinations remain one of the best tools we have for the prevention of monkeypox,” MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said. “If you think you are at risk, please take the important step of getting vaccinated.”
Individuals 18 years or older may be eligible for vaccination if they:
- Have been notified or are aware of close, intimate or sexual contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox.
- Identify as gay, bisexual, or as other men who have sex with men, or are transgender individuals, and:
- Have multiple or anonymous sex partners.
- Attend events or venues where monkeypox may be transmitted (for example, by skin-to-skin contact or sex on-site).
- Are living with HIV.
- Have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the prior 90 days.
Monkeypox vaccines are currently available at county health departments in Lee, Panola, Leflore, Lowndes, Lauderdale, Adams, Hinds, Forrest, and Harrison counties.
As of Tuesday, 79 cases have been identified in Mississippi.
