Diseases it protects from

Mpox vaccine protects against orthopoxvirus infections such as mpox (used to be called monkeypox) and smallpox. There are currently no cases of smallpox in Canada, but there are cases of mpox.

Mpox vaccine is approved for use in Canada.

Who should get this vaccine

You may be able to get this vaccine if you have a higher risk of being exposed to mpox.

Risk factors

You may have a higher risk if you identify as a man who has sex with men and at least 1 of the following applies to you:

• You have more than 1 sexual partner.
• You are in a relationship where at least 1 of the partners has other sexual partners.
• You have had sexual or skin-to-skin contact at a venue such as a bath house, sex club, or sex party.
• You have had a sexually transmitted infection in the last year.

You may also have a higher risk if:

• You have sexual partners with any of the above risk factors.
• You are a sex worker.
• You went to or worked at a venue where people have sexual or skin-to-skin contact, such as a bath house, sex club, or sex party.
• You might be involved in any of the above activities in the future.
• You work in a research lab and have direct contact with orthopoxviruses as part of your work.
• You are a healthcare worker who will be working where there is an mpox outbreak.
• You are travelling and will have close contact (like sharing a room or having sexual contact) with people who live in places with a high risk of mpox.

You can also get this vaccine if you had close contact with someone who has mpox.

It is best to get this vaccine within 4 days of close contact, but you can get it up to 14 days after.

If mpox symptoms start, you can no longer get the vaccine.

Call Health Link at 811 to find out if this vaccine is recommended for you.

Under age 18 years

Talk to your healthcare provider before getting this vaccine if you are under age 18 years.

Mpox vaccine is licensed for people age 18 years or older. But vaccine experts support using mpox vaccine for people younger than age 18 years if you are at high risk of being exposed to mpox or have had close contact with someone who has mpox. This is called “off-label use.”

There is limited information on the use of mpox vaccine in children. Studies done with similar vaccines show no safety concerns for children under age 18 years.

Who may not be able to get this vaccine

You may not be able to get this vaccine if:

• You have an allergy to any part of the vaccine. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any allergies you may have.
• You had a serious or unusual side effect after this vaccine or one like it.
• You have previously been diagnosed with mpox.

If any of these apply, check with your healthcare provider before you get mpox vaccine.

Although you can get the vaccine if you have a mild illness such as a cold or fever, it’s best to stay home until you are feeling better to prevent spreading your illness to others, unless you have been exposed to mpox. If you have been exposed, you should get the vaccine right away.

You can get the vaccine if you have eczema (atopic dermatitis—a skin condition that makes your skin red and itchy). People with eczema are more likely to have serious side effects with other smallpox vaccines, but this has not been reported with mpox vaccine. If you have eczema and get mpox vaccine, you may be more likely to have common vaccine side effects, or your eczema could get worse. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions.

There is more to learn about mpox vaccine and certain groups of people.

Talk to your healthcare provider before you get mpox vaccine if:

• You have a weakened immune system (because of medicine you take or a health problem).
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding/chestfeeding.
• You are under age 18 years.
• You have a history of myocarditis or pericarditis (inflammation of the heart or heart lining) after getting smallpox vaccine or mpox vaccine.

Doses

If you have a high risk of being exposed to mpox, you need 2 doses, 4 weeks apart.

If you had close contact with someone who has mpox, you need 1 dose right away. You will get a second dose 4 weeks later, as long as you have not developed symptoms.

If you work in a research lab and you have had smallpox vaccine in the past, you only need 1 dose of mpox vaccine, unless you have a weakened immune system. If you have a weakened immune system, you need 2 doses.

If you work in a research lab and have direct contact with orthopoxviruses as part of your work, you may need a booster dose at least 2 years after your last mpox vaccine.

Talk to your healthcare provider about how many doses you need.

Get the vaccine

If you think you may be at higher risk for being exposed to mpox, call Health Link at 811 to see if you can get the vaccine.

If you think you need the vaccine because of your work in a research lab, talk to your workplace health and safety department.

If you are a healthcare worker who will be working in another country with an mpox outbreak, talk to your workplace health and safety department.

In Alberta, Public Health will contact you if you are identified as a close contact of a confirmed case of mpox. If Public Health decides you need mpox vaccine, they will tell you where to go for the vaccine.

Mpox vaccine and other vaccines

Mpox vaccine can be given at the same time as most other vaccines.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have had any other vaccines in the last 6 weeks.

How well it works

For mpox vaccine to work, you need to get it before mpox symptoms start.

If you get mpox vaccine after contact with mpox virus, the vaccine can protect you from getting mpox, or it can make the infection milder.

If you have a weakened immune system, the vaccine may not work as well.

Safety

Vaccine safety is a top priority. Canada uses extremely safe vaccines. Learn more about vaccine safety in Canada, including how vaccines are monitored for continued safety, and ingredients in vaccines.

Side effects

There can be side effects from the mpox vaccine, but they tend to be mild and go away in a few days. Side effects may include:

• redness where you had the needle, that may look red on light skin or purple on darker skin
• changes in skin colour, bruising, swelling, warmth, itching, a hard spot or a small lump, or feeling sore where you had the needle
• feeling tired
• a headache
• a fever or chills
• body aches or sore joints
• pain in your arms or legs
• not feeling hungry or not wanting to eat (poor appetite)
• feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)

At least 1 out of 100 people who got this vaccine reported 1 or more of these side effects. In some cases, it is unknown if the vaccine caused these side effects.

It is important to stay at the clinic for 15 minutes after your vaccine. Some people may have a rare but serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. If anaphylaxis happens, you will get medicine to treat the symptoms.

It is rare to have a serious side effect after a vaccine. Call Health Link at 811 to report any serious or unusual side effects.

Rare events

There have been reports of myopericarditis (an inflammation of both the heart muscle and lining around the heart) after other vaccines that protect against smallpox. However, no cases of myopericarditis after mpox vaccine have been reported.

It is not known if having a history of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart) after getting mpox vaccine or another smallpox vaccine puts you at higher risk of having these rare events.

Talk to your healthcare provider before getting mpox vaccine if you have had these rare events after getting a smallpox vaccine or mpox vaccine.

How to manage side effects

• To help with soreness and swelling, put a cool, wet cloth over the area where you had the needle.
• There is medicine to help with a fever or pain. Check with your healthcare provider if you’re not sure what medicine or dose to take. Follow the directions on the package.
• Some people with health problems, such as a weakened immune system, must call their healthcare provider if they get a fever. If you have been told to do this, call your healthcare provider even if you think the fever is from the vaccine.

There can be mild, short-term side effects after getting a vaccine. Find tips to manage these side effects at home.