Island County has coordinated with community healthcare providers to ensure access to testing on Whidbey and Camano Islands. Healthcare providers can reach out to Island County Public Health at 360.914.0837 for assistance with testing. We encourage anyone who has symptoms of monkeypox, or anyone who has been in close contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox in the last 21 days, to contact a healthcare provider to see if they should be tested. Washington state has no shortage of testing capacity for monkeypox.
Monkeypox Vaccine
Monkeypox vaccine can help to prevent disease or make it less severe.
It can take up to three weeks after being exposed to the virus before symptoms begin.
CDC recommends that the vaccine be given within 4 days from the date of exposure for the best chance to prevent monkeypox. Vaccine can still be helpful within a couple of weeks of exposure at reducing the severity of symptoms but may not prevent onset of disease.
Vaccination is not currently recommended for the general public who are not at high risk of recent exposure to monkeypox.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you think you have been exposed. This includes having sexual or close intimate contact with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox.
Who is eligible for vaccine now?
Vaccination is available to the following populations. To schedule vaccination, please call Jen Krenz, MS MPH at 360.914.0037 or Melanie Davis, RN BSN at 360.678.8246.
Individuals who have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 6 months
People who have used methamphetamine in the last 6 months
People who have exchanged sex for money, drugs, or other purposes in the past 6 months
People who have been sexually assaulted, regardless of gender or sexual orientation
People who have had sexual contact or prolonged skin-to-skin exposure with people who were exposed to MPV
A new diagnosis in the last 12 months of one or more nationally reportable sexually transmitted diseases (i.e., acute HIV, chancroid, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis).
For more information see Guidelines for JYNNEOS Vaccine Use from WA Dept. of Health.