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Monkeypox/mpox vaccine

Description

Vaccination is a means of protection against monkeypox/mpox and complications from it. This vaccine may be indicated for certain people who have been in high-risk contact with a confirmed or probable case of monkeypox/mpox in the days after exposure following a decision by the public health authorities.

Symptoms after vaccination

The vaccine can cause some symptoms (ex., redness at the injection site). Other problems may occur coincidentally and have nothing to do with the vaccine (ex., a cold, gastroenteritis, headache).

The vaccine against monkeypox/mpox is safe. Most people have no reaction to the vaccine.

Nature and frequency of the possible reactions to the vaccine
FrequencyPossible reactions to the vaccine
Often (less than 10% of people)
  • Pain, redness, swelling, induration, itching at the injection site
  • Nausea
  • Headache, fatigue
  • Muscle pains
Sometimes (less than 1% of people)
  • Heat, nodule, hematoma, discolouration at the injection site
  • Limb pain, joint pain
  • Fever, chills
Rarely (less than 1 in 1,000 people)
  • Swollen glands
  • Skin peeling
  • Nose or throat injection
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Dizziness
  • Numbness
Very rarely (less than 1 in 10,000 people)
  • Pimples
  • Anesthesia, nerve damage
  • Hives, facial swelling
  • Night sweats, profuse sweating
  • Muscle spasm
  • Weakness
  • Migraine

What to do after vaccination

Advice to follow in the minutes following vaccination

Wait 15 minutes before leaving the place where you received the vaccine. If there is an allergic reaction, the symptoms will appear a few minutes after the vaccination.

If you feel any symptoms, inform the person who administered your vaccine immediately. That person can treat your symptoms on site.

Advice for when you get home

If you have any redness, pain or swelling at the injection site, apply a cold, moist compress.

Use fever or pain medication as needed.

When to seek medical help

See a doctor if you are in one of the following situations:

  • You experience severe or unusual symptoms.
  • Your symptoms worsen instead of improving.
  • Your symptoms last longer than 48 hours.

See also

Last update: February 23, 2023

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