What to know
The vaccine is the best protection against mpox
- The vaccine lowers the chance of getting mpox
- If you do get mpox, the vaccine lowers the chance of the infection being severe and leading to hospitalization
The vaccine protects against both mpox types
- There are 2 types of mpox virus: clade I and clade II.
- The vaccine gives you protection against both types of mpox, so you have protection no matter which type is circulating where you live or travel.
Summer and fall is mpox season in SF
Mpox cases have risen in the summer and fall each year since 2022.
What to know
The vaccine is the best protection against mpox
- The vaccine lowers the chance of getting mpox
- If you do get mpox, the vaccine lowers the chance of the infection being severe and leading to hospitalization
The vaccine protects against both mpox types
- There are 2 types of mpox virus: clade I and clade II.
- The vaccine gives you protection against both types of mpox, so you have protection no matter which type is circulating where you live or travel.
Summer and fall is mpox season in SF
Mpox cases have risen in the summer and fall each year since 2022.
What to do
Get the mpox vaccine
If you have insurance:
- Ask your healthcare provider for the vaccine.
- You can also check with CVS, Walgreens, or other retail pharmacies.
- The vaccine is covered by most insurance.
Pharmacy stock information
CVS and Walgreens have designated specific stores in San Francisco that they plan to keep stocked with mpox vaccine.
CVS: 2675 Geary Blvd, 701 Van Ness Ave
Walgreens: 1301 Market St, 459 Powell St
Call the store to make sure they have the vaccine. They will have the most up to date information about current stock.
If you do not have insurance, or your insurance does not cover the vaccine:
If you do not have insurance or your insurance does not fully cover the cost, you can get it for free at these clinics, while supplies last:
- San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Clinic at Strut: 415-581-1600
- SF City Clinic: 628-217-6600
- Adult Immunization and Travel Clinic (AITC): make an appointment online
The vaccine is 2 doses
- Get 2 doses of the vaccine 4 weeks apart.
- If more than 4 weeks have passed since dose 1, get dose 2 as soon as you can. You do not need to repeat dose 1.
- 2 doses is a complete vaccination. No dose 3 or booster is needed.
Who should get the vaccine
Who we recommend the mpox vaccine for
We recommend the vaccine for people who meet any of the following criteria:
- Are a gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men
- Are transgender, nonbinary, or gender-diverse
- Are living with HIV
- Use PrEP or are eligible to take PrEP
- Use doxy-PEP
- Will be traveling outside the US, particularly to a country where clade I mpox is spreading between people, and anticipate having sex during travel
- Have sex at commercial sex venues or large commercial events
- Are a sex worker
- Have a sex partner who was diagnosed with mpox
- Any of your sex partners meet the criteria listed above
Laboratory personnel
The vaccine is also recommended for certain research and clinical laboratory personnel who work with orthopoxviruses.
Get mpox testing and treatment
Testing
Testing is available for people who have a rash that looks like mpox. Health care providers do the testing.
If you have a health care provider, contact them to ask for the testing.
If you do not have a health care provider, go to one of these free clinics:
- San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Clinic at Strut: 415-581-1600
- SF City Clinic: 628-217-6600
Treatment
Most people get well from mpox without needing any medicines or other treatment. Some patients may benefit from taking pain relievers.
If you are at risk for severe mpox, your provider may prescribe therapeutics that work against the virus that causes mpox. These may include tecovirimat (TPOXX). Keep your provider updated on how you are feeling while you have mpox, so that they can prescribe these therapeutics if it becomes necessary.
The short URL for this page is sf.gov/mpox.