Wilkes Health now has vaccines to protect against monkeypox, as well as testing. Vaccines are available for:

• Anyone who had close contact in the past two weeks with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox, or
• Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, or transgender individuals who are sexually active; or
• People who have had sexual contact with gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, or transgendered individuals in the past 90 days; or
• People living with HIV, or taking medications to prevent HIV (PrEP), or who were diagnosed with syphilis in the past 90 days.

Anyone can get monkeypox, most commonly through close skin-to-skin contact. Vaccination after recent exposure may reduce the chance of getting monkeypox and can reduce symptom severity if you do get monkeypox. Those interested in receiving the vaccine should contact Wilkes Health at 336-651-7524 to find out whether they are eligible and to schedule an appointment. Everyone can do their part to control the spread: We are in this together! Protect yourself and limit the spread of monkeypox, especially if you are at higher risk: Get checked. Get tested. Get vaccinated.