Appointments for the monkeypox vaccine were released on Monday 17th of October. The HSE have said that due to high demand and limited capacity, all appointments have now been booked. It is understand that more vaccine appointments are to be made available in November.
Appointments for monkeypox vaccines- Book at: http://HSE.ie/monkeypox
Vaccination Centres: Dublin (St James’, St Vincent’s, Mater hospitals); Cork, Limerick, Galway, Wexford, Portlaoise.
Who can get a monkeypox vaccine
You can get a monkeypox vaccine if you are in an at-risk group.
If you are a close contact of someone who has monkeypox, you will be contacted by health professionals. They will let you know if you should get a monkeypox vaccine.
At-risk groups
You can get a monkeypox vaccine if you are a man or transgender woman who has sex with men (non-monogamous) and one of the following applies to you:
- You have been diagnosed with a bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past 6 months. For example gonorrhoea, syphilis or chlamydia.
- You have been diagnosed with genital herpes for the first time in the past 6 months.
- You have had 3 or more sexual partners in the past 3 months.
- You have had group sex in the past 6 months.
- You have had sex in a sex-on-premises venue in the past 6 months — this can include a sauna, dark room or sex club.
Book a monkeypox vaccination appointment online
Book a monkeypox vaccine appointment online if you are over 18 and you:
- are in an at-risk group
- have not had monkeypox
- have not had a monkeypox vaccine or you have only received your first dose
If you have already received your first dose you can book your second dose online. Wait 4 weeks since your first dose. Tell your vaccinator that this is your second dose.
We will not ask about your sexual behaviour or sexual history when you book online or when you are being vaccinated.
Information: Appointments are limited. More appointments will be available soon.
How the monkeypox vaccine is given
There are 2 ways to get the vaccine:
- by injecting into your upper arm (subcutaneous)
- by injecting between layers of skin in your arm (intradermal) — this is a smaller dose but gives you the same protection
If you are aged 16 to 18, you will get the vaccine through an injection in your upper arm.
If you have keloid scars, you will get the vaccine through an injection in your upper arm.
Doses of monkeypox vaccine
If you are a close contact of someone with monkeypox, you will get 1 dose of the monkeypox vaccine. Some close contacts will get 2 doses.
If you are offered a vaccine because you are at high risk of getting monkeypox, you will get 2 doses of the monkeypox vaccine, 28 days apart.
If you had a smallpox vaccine before, you only need 1 dose of the vaccine. But if you have a weak immune system, you will need 2 doses. Vaccines may be less effective for you than other people.
Protection from monkeypox after vaccine
It takes 14 days after your course of the vaccine for it to work.
There is a chance you might still get monkeypox, even if you have had the vaccine. But it may reduce any symptoms of monkeypox.
Who should not get the monkeypox vaccine
If you have had monkeypox, you do not need to get the monkeypox vaccine.
Do not get the monkeypox vaccine if you have had an allergic reaction to any of the vaccine ingredients, including:
- chicken protein
- benzonase
- gentamicin
- ciprofloxacin
- Trometamol
Monkeypox vaccine side effects
The most common side effects of the vaccine are:
- headache
- nausea
- muscle pain (myalgia)
- tiredness
- reactions where you got the vaccine, including pain, redness, swelling, hardening and itching
These may affect more than 1 in 10 people.
Report any harmful effects to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA)
You can report it yourself, or your doctor or family member can do that for you.
Read more about the side effects in the patient information leaflet — hpsc.ie
Monkeypox vaccine and COVID-19 vaccines
If you are due a COVID-19 vaccine dose, you can get it 4 weeks after your monkeypox vaccine.
If you have recently had a COVID-19 vaccine dose, you can get the monkeypox vaccine any time after this. You do not need to wait 4 weeks.