Wake County encourages those at risk to get free mpox vaccination
With summer events and festivals ahead, Wake County is encouraging those at risk for mpox to get vaccinated.
This reminder comes on the heels of a cluster of new infections of mpox, formerly called monkeypox, in Chicago earlier this month that saw 21 people infected.
"We’re not trying to scare anyone," said Wake County Board of Commissioner Vickie Adamson. "If you’re planning to go to a festival or event this summer, just remember what you can do to protect yourself and others. We have the tools and knowledge to avoid another scare like we saw last year and keep our numbers of infection low."
Take advantage of convenient, no-cost appointments to help prevent the spread.
Mpox is a virus in the smallpox family. Last year, there was an unusual global outbreak with more than 31,000 cases reported in the U.S. – including 708 cases in North Carolina and 115 cases in Wake County.
According to the CDC, symptoms of mpox can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Exhaustion
- A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus.
Testing and vaccines for mpox are readily available at Wake County Public Health Center and regional center locations.
To make an appointment for the vaccine or testing, residents can visit wake.gov/mpox or call 919-250-3900 (vaccine) and 919-212-9398 (testing).
