Still Here, Still Preventable: The Latest on Mpox and Vaccination
April 15, 2026
By Matt Crehan Higgins, AVP of specialty care
Did you know that mpox is still around? And it’s still preventable through a vaccine that’s available at Evergreen and elsewhere throughout Western New York.
Read on to learn the latest need-to-know info about what’s happening with mpox today.
A quick history of mpox
During the summer and fall of 2022, mpox became a major focus in sexual health conversations as cases began rising rapidly, particularly among gay and bisexual men, other men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, and people engaged in sex work.
By July 2022, the increase in cases accelerated, prompting the federal government to release the JYNNEOS vaccine from the national stockpile. In response, federal, state, and local health departments quickly partnered with community-based organizations like Evergreen to distribute the limited vaccine supply as strategically as possible, prioritizing the most at-risk populations.
The Erie County Department of Health and Evergreen Health coordinated a series of mpox vaccine clinics in 2022, and both organizations continue to offer the JYNNEOS vaccine.
Mpox today: still here, still preventable
Over time, vaccination efforts proved effective, and reported mpox cases declined quickly. As a result, many people came to believe that mpox had disappeared entirely.
In reality, cases have continued to circulate at low levels since the initial outbreak. Vaccination remains the most effective protection, and completing the two-dose series is especially important—particularly for those in the communities most affected, though the vaccine is now available to anyone.
If you’ve received the two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine series in the past, you are protected from mpox. There is no current recommendation for boosters or additional doses.
“Partnerships with healthcare organizations like Evergreen Health are crucial to extending the reach and impact of campaigns like the one for mpox awareness,” said Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “Our joint work reinforces important messages about prevention with vaccines, recognizing and managing symptoms, testing and reducing the risk of transmission.”
Get vaccinated for your long-term health
Confirming you’re protected against mpox also offers an opportunity to revisit other vaccine-preventable infections related to sexual health, like vaccination against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. While many individuals received these vaccines in childhood, if you aren’t sure if you’re up-to-date with vaccinations, reach out to your primary care provider to confirm your immunity.
Another important STI you can vaccinate against to prevent long-term issues is the HPV vaccine, which plays a key role in preventing infection with human papillomavirus, which can lead to genital warts and cancers affecting the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus and throat. The vaccine is routinely recommended for all genders through age 26 and is now available to individuals up to age 45.
Resources:
Erie County Department of Health: Mpox
New York State Department of Health: Mpox