Monkeypox and HIV

What to know

  • We don't know if having HIV means you're more likely to get monkeypox.
  • In recent outbreaks, people living with uncontrolled HIV have had a higher risk of severe monkeypox and death.
  • JYNNEOS vaccines to prevent monkeypox are safe and effective for people living with HIV.
  • Monkeypox treatments have few possible interactions with HIV medicines.

Background

If you have HIV, you should follow the same recommendations as everyone else to protect yourself from monkeypox (also known as mpox), including getting vaccinated. Taking your HIV medication as prescribed and keeping an undetectable viral load are the best things you can do to stay healthy, keep from transmitting HIV to your partner during sex, and prevent severe illness if you're exposed to monkeypox.

Many people diagnosed with monkeypox are also living with HIV. We don't know if having HIV increases the chance you'll get monkeypox if you're exposed, but we do know that people with advanced HIV (and are immunocompromised) who get monkeypox are at increased risk of severe illness and death.

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Living with HIV
Information about living with HIV, including treatment options.
Signs and Symptoms of Monkeypox
Learn the signs and symptoms of monkeypox, such as a new or unexplained rash, fever, and more.
Safer Sex, Social Gatherings, and Monkeypox
Learn how to lower your risk of getting monkeypox during sex or when at social gatherings.
How Monkeypox Spreads
Monkeypox mainly spreads through close contact with an infected person

Monkeypox vaccines

JYNNEOS is a two-dose vaccine that's authorized for the prevention of monkeypox and is considered safe and effective for people with HIV. Getting both recommended doses of the vaccine provides the best protection against monkeypox.

Ideally, you'd get the vaccine before you were even exposed to monkeypox. But you can also get the vaccine as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if you've had close contact with someone who has monkeypox.

Keep Reading Monkeypox Vaccination

Keep in mind

Monkeypox vaccine PEP can be confusing because we use the term HIV PEP for HIV prevention. PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, can reduce your chances of getting a disease after you may have been exposed to it by someone who already has the disease.

- HIV PEP is a medicine that can prevent HIV.
- Monkeypox vaccine PEP is the monkeypox vaccine.

If you have HIV

If you have HIV, let your healthcare provider know because it may help decide options for monkeypox treatment.

Some studies have suggested that people with HIV, particularly people with low CD4 counts (<350 cells/ml) or who are not virally suppressed, are more likely than people without HIV to be hospitalized and possibly die if they get monkeypox.

Monkeypox treatments are safe for people with HIV. Based on what we know, monkeypox treatments have very few possible interactions with HIV medicines. Ask your healthcare provider about which treatment options you should consider.

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If you're taking PrEP or PEP to prevent HIV

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are still effective for preventing HIV even if you have monkeypox or are taking monkeypox treatment. If you are taking HIV PrEP or HIV PEP, continue taking your medicine as prescribed by your provider.

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)