Kane County Receives First Doses of Monkeypox Vaccine
On July 15, 2022 the Kane County Health Department received its first shipment of the JYNNEOS vaccine. Kane County received the allocation as an Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) initiative to make the JYNNEOS vaccine available to counties that have one or more confirmed cases of Monkeypox. Kane County currently has two confirmed cases. The vaccine will be given to those who have had close contact to a confirmed case, as well as those belonging to high risk priority groups.
Monkeypox is a rare disease which first spread to humans in 1970. The disease is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes Smallpox. The Monkeypox virus symptoms are similar to Smallpox and include:
• Fever
• Headache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• Rash resembling blisters on the face, inside the mouth, hands, feet, chest, or other parts of the body
The virus can be spread through:
• Direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or bodily fluids
• Respiratory secretions during prolonged face to face contact (within 6 feet for more than 3 hours) or during intimate physical contact
• Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or bodily fluids
• Pregnant women can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta
The JYNNEOS vaccine was approved on September 24, 2019 for the prevention of Smallpox and Monkeypox disease in adults 18 years of age and older. It is currently the only FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of Monkeypox disease. This vaccine uses non-replicating, live virus technology, and like many vaccines, it is a 2 dose series with 28 days between doses.
At this time, the Kane County Health Department is working with multiple healthcare providers to begin offering the vaccine to those who are close contacts of a confirmed Monkeypox case, as well as those who are considered high risk for exposure.
For more information on the Monkeypox virus please visit:
