Let's Talk about Mpox!

Leading public health expert, Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH, provides the latest on mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), including who should get vaccinated, common symptoms, testing and treatment options, and more, in this FAQ series. Watch and share.
For more on mpox, including FREE vaccines: greaterthan.org/mpox and cdc.gov/mpox
Dr. Daskalakis is the Acting Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, deployed from his position as the Director of the Division of HIV Prevention in the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at CDC. He is an infectious disease specialist with a focus on LGBTQAI communities.
This video is a joint production of KFF’s GREATER THAN public information campaign and CDC. This information is shared for educational purposes and should not be used substitute for professional medical advice. The views expressed are those of the featured medical professional and reflect information available to that professional at the time of filming. Always consult a health care provider for any personal health decisions.
The mark “CDC” is owned by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services and is used with permission. Use of this logo is not an endorsement by HHS or CDC of any particular product, service, or enterprise.
TRANSCRIPT:
Stop right here. We have some really important stuff to talk about.
Mpox is transmitted by close skin-to-skin contact, often in the context of sex.
It is something that we see a lot more of in the community of gay, bisexual, and other same gender loving men, or other men who have sex with men.
We usually think of mpox as a skin infection. People can get a rash. It can look like chickenpox. It can look like herpes. Some people also progress to having mpox in other parts of their body and that tends to be very painful.
Vaccination with two doses of mpox vaccine means a pretty great level of protection. No vaccine is perfect, so there's always a risk of mpox, people who are vaccinated tend to have fewer symptoms and get hospitalized less.
If you haven't gotten dose one, get dose one now. If you haven't gotten your second dose, it's never too late. We want to get that force field up all the way to level ten, no halfway protection. Let's get it done.