CHICAGO – The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) today announced that MPV (monkeypox) JYNNEOS vaccines will be available, by appointment, at several clinics across the city this weekend.

“Our MPV vaccine supply continues to increase, and we are pleased to be opening up larger clinics to serve even more Chicagoans, while still working to vaccinate those at highest risk to help stop the spread,” said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. “CDPH has been working closely with healthcare providers, clinics, and community-based organizations who work with individuals disconnected from medical services to schedule vaccination appointments.”

Eligibility for MPV vaccination may change over time, but currently close contacts (e.g., household members with close physical contact or intimate partners) of someone diagnosed with MPV are prioritized for vaccination regardless of sex, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, MPV vaccine is available to gay or bisexual men and transgender persons 18 years of age and older who:

• Have had multiple or anonymous sex partners, or sex at a social or sexual venue, or sex in exchange for money or goods, AND
• Have not previously been infected with MPV.

More than 2,000 appointments are available this weekend, by appointment only, at:

• CDPH MPV Vaccination Clinics at City College locations on Saturday, August 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.:
  • Kennedy King College (6301 S. Halsted St.), events.juvare.com/IL-IDPH/nktvn/ and use the voucher code 813MPV
  • Malcolm X College (1900 W. Jackson Blvd.), events.juvare.com/IL-IDPH/xudqs/ and use the voucher code 813MPV
• MPV Vaccination Clinic hosted by RUSH and UIC at the College of Nursing (845 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, 60612) on Sunday, August 14 for Illinois residents, register at uicort.setmore.com.

Additionally, MPV vaccine appointments are now available up to 6 days per week at three CDPH STI Clinics around the city by visiting getvaxchi.chicago.gov. To access remaining available appointments this week, use the following codes:

• Lakeview Clinic, use referral code f0969104
• Austin Clinic, use referral code 2774ae3b
• Roseland Clinic, use referral code fb1c220e

Following a model developed during Chicago’s COVID vaccine rollout, CDPH takes an approach to its MPV vaccine appointments that combines efficiency and equity. Each week, CDPH creates new access codes for that week’s MPV vaccine appointments and releases these codes first to health care providers and smaller community-based organizations that primarily serve, for example, Latinx or Black LGBTQIA+ communities, or areas of the city with more limited health care infrastructure. Appointments that are not filled are then released to larger community organizations, and finally to all eligible Chicagoans. Follow CDPH on social media or check Chicago.gov/MPV to learn when vaccine appointments are available.

This week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) permitting the JYNNEOS vaccine to be administered in smaller doses by intradermal injection (just under the surface of the skin) rather than in a larger dose in a deeper layer of the skin. This injection approach will allow vaccinators to give up to five vaccinations, rather than one, from each vaccine vial – significantly increasing the reach of the available vaccine. This is excellent news, but because it a much less common administration approach, it will require a significant shift in operations over the next few weeks. CDPH, for example, has now ordered thousands of the smaller needles and syringes that are required; is working with the CDC to develop and roll-out training to vaccinators; and is working with IDPH and medical providers to adjust the reporting and information infrastructure.

The vaccine is not currently recommended for the general public, including same gender loving men who do not have one of the additional risk criteria. The full course of vaccine consists of 2 doses given at least 4 weeks apart. It takes about 2 weeks for the first dose to take full effect. In Chicago, given the rapidly growing outbreak and limited vaccine availability, we have been prioritizing giving first doses of JYNNEOS vaccine to more individuals rather than reserving a supply of second doses. The goal is to protect as many people as possible as quickly as possible. While there will likely be a delay in some people receiving their second doses, the first dose provides the most substantial increase in protection against the virus.

The goal remains to vaccinate as many people as efficiently and equitably as possible – while ensuring regulatory compliance, accurate record-keeping, and safety. Once the new vaccination infrastructure is in place, CDPH expects to be able to announce that second-dose appointments are available for anyone who received their first MPV vaccine dose more than 28 days earlier. This announcement is expected within the next few weeks.

For more information about MPV, visit Chicago.gov/MPV