Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, in the United States, vaccination is available to everyone 6 months and older. Check with your doctor, your health plan, or use Vaccines.gov to find out where you can be vaccinated now.

The CDC refers people to the Vaccine Finder. All locations may not be listed. Be sure to ask your health plan or provider what might be closest. Pharmacies near you may also have vaccinations available (CDC). You can look up your local health office by scrolling to the bottom of the page found here. Most vaccination sites require you to make an appointment.

Mpox is a zoonotic disease which means that it can be spread from animals to humans hence the original name. It spread worldwide in 2022.

Mpox is related to smallpox and in most cases is a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting from 2 to 4 weeks. But there are two types of Mpox: Clade I causes more severe illness and deaths. Clade I is usually found in Central Africa. Clade II is the type that caused the global outbreak that began in 2022. Infections from clade II Mpox are less severe. More than 99.9% of people survive. Clade II originated in West Africa.

Symptoms include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle aches and backache, headache, and respiratory symptoms (sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough). Mpox looks like a rash, pimples, or blisters on the face, inside the mouth, and other parts of the body like hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus. During this stage the rash can be painful or itchy. The rash starts as raised spots and then turns into fluid filled blisters. The blisters then turn to scabs and later fall off. You should consult your doctor if you have a new or unexplained rash.

The virus can be passed to others through proximity with someone with monkeypox by:

• Contact with infected rash and scabs
• Direct contact with infected animals
• Close contact (including intimate contact) with a person with mpox
• Direct contact with contaminated materials

If you believe you have or were exposed to Mpox, call your health care provider’s office and inform them you would like to be tested for Mpox. (CDC)

Vaccine
There is a two-dose vaccine for monkeypox. You are considered to have the vaccine’s full protection two weeks after getting the second dose. Talk to your doctor to see if you should receive the Mpox vaccine (CDC).

A vaccination is a simple injection (shot) in the arm. (Note, a nasal spray is available to healthy people 2 to 49 years old for the flu vaccine.) 

After you get a vaccination, you may have minor reactions such as a sore arm or low-grade fever. These symptoms should go away within a few days at most. Remember, vaccines are continually monitored for safety, and like any medication, vaccines can cause side effects which are usually minor. However, a decision not to immunize also involves risks and could put you and your loved ones and others who come into contact with you at risk of contracting a potentially deadly disease (CDC). 

Yes, there are treatments for COVID-19. They are only available by prescription and must be started within the first 5-7 days of developing symptoms. You can go HERE to learn more or visit our COVID-19 page.

“Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19” (CDC).

Vaccines often provide long-lasting immunity to serious diseases without the risk of serious illness. They do not always provide 100% immunity, but always lessen the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death from the disease. Learn more HERE.

1. Listen, be respectful, and ask polite questions to help you understand their concerns.
2. Do not tell them they are wrong, suggest there may be new or additional information to consider.
3. There are many credible healthcare sources available through the CDC, YourVaccinationGuide.org, or your local healthcare professional. It’s best to find the one that they trust the most.
4. Share other upsides that may be important to them such as continuing to be able to hug a grandchild, being able to hold a celebration, and travel, etc.
5. Emphasize that:
   • • The vaccines are safe and free.
     • Their chance of dying from COVID-19 or being hospitalized drops significantly with the vaccine.
     • They are protecting themselves and the people around them. Is someone they love over 65, under 6 months or in poor health? These groups are at risk.

Yes, people with chronic conditions can get the vaccine (CDC). It is important, however, to talk to your doctor to find out if you should get the vaccine particularly if you have a compromised immune system or had an earlier reaction to a vaccine. Check with your doctor regarding the specific vaccine you are scheduled to receive. Visit the California Chronic Care Coalition for more information related to chronic disease or My Patient Rights if you have trouble accessing care.

Yes, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are approved to use for those 6 months to 18 years though they may have different dosages (CDC). The other available vaccines are for those 18 and over. Watch for updates in available vaccines for children.

CDC is investigating multisystem inflammatory syndrome is rare but can effect children and adults and is associated serious complications associated with COVID-19 (CDC).

In rare instances, cases of inflammation of the heart—called myocarditis and pericarditis–have been reported after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, appearing primarily in adolescents and young adults. The CDC is still investigating these reports.

Symptoms of myocarditis and pericarditis:

• chest pain
• shortness of breath
• feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart.

Seek medical care if you or your child are experiencing any of these symptoms (CDC).

The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain material from chicken eggs. For 70 years, growing viruses in chicken eggs was the way many vaccines were created. Several flu vaccine makers still use this process. In 2019, all the flu vaccines approved in the U.S. were cell-based, not egg-based, but we recommend that you continue to ask every time you get a vaccine if you are concerned or have been told not to take egg-based vaccines (CDC).

The at home or rapid test are antigen tests In general, antigen tests are less likely to detect the virus than PCR tests, especially when symptoms are not present. So one  negative test doesn’t mean you don’t have COVID-19. To be sure, the FDA recommends 2 negative tests for individuals with symptoms or 3 negative tests for those without symptoms, performed 48 hours apart (CDC).

No, the COVID-19 vaccines do not use the live virus and cannot give you the virus. It is possible that those vaccinated could still get COVID-19 because the vaccines are not 100% effective, but the vaccine will not give it to you.