Colorado expands monkeypox vaccine eligibility criteria, announces mobile clinics

COLORADO, (KRDO) -- The State of Colorado announced Monday that it is expanding its monkeypox vaccine criteria.

The state said that while many previous categories were considered risk factors within the last 14 days, most new eligibility categories remove that time limit and consider ongoing or potential future risk. These changes are being made in response to increased vaccine supply from the federal government and to ensure Jynneos vaccine doses are available for people who may benefit from getting advanced protection against monkeypox. 

Those who now qualify for vaccination include:

• Anyone (any sexual orientation or gender identity) who has had close physical contact with someone who has had monkeypox in the last 14 days.
• Anyone (any sexual orientation or gender identity) who: 
  • Has multiple or anonymous sexual partners, or 
  • Has close physical contact with other people in a venue where anonymous or group sex may occur, or
  • Was diagnosed with gonorrhea or syphilis in the past six months, or
  • Is living with HIV, or
  • Already uses or is eligible for HIV PrEP (medication to prevent HIV, e.g. Truvada or Descovy or Apretude), or
  • Engages in commercial and/or transactional sex (e.g. sex in exchange for money, shelter, food, and other goods or needs).
• Anyone (any sexual orientation or gender identity) identified by public health as a known high-risk contact of someone who has monkeypox.

Monkeypox vaccine will also soon be available at select state-run mobile vaccine clinics throughout the state. Walk-ups will be accepted as vaccine supply allows, but appointments can be scheduled.

Coloradans who can get the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine can use a secure, automated system for finding and scheduling appointments at many clinics statewide, including all state-run and mobile vaccine clinics. Details and a map of additional vaccine providers statewide are available on the CDPHE’s website.

An upcoming state-run monkeypox vaccine clinic will be held Friday, Sept. 30 from 3 p.m. - 11 p.m. at Club Q in Colorado Springs, located at 3430 N. Academy Blvd. Appointments for that clinic can be made here.