COVID and Monkeypox health information

COVID-19 General Information

COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, is a virus that causes fever, cough and shortness of breath. The virus can cause severe illness including pneumonia in high risk populations such as older adults and people with chronic medical conditions. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

Monkeypox General Information

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal.

Monkeypox Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

The Georgia Department of Public Health is the office responsible for administering COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine

Locate a vaccine here

Latest vaccine numbers

Monkeypox Vaccine Information

The CDC recommends vaccination for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and people who may be more likely to get monkeypox.

The preferred vaccine to protect against monkeypox is JYNNEOS, which is a two-dose vaccine. It takes 14 days after getting the second dose of JYNNEOS for its immune protection to reach its maximum.

The ACAM2000 vaccine may be an alternative to JYNNEOS. ACAM2000 is a single-dose vaccine, and it takes four weeks after vaccination for its immune protection to reach its maximum. However, it has the potential for more side effects and adverse events than JYNNEOS. It is not recommended for people with severely weakened immune systems and several other conditions.

People should take precautions to reduce their exposure to monkeypox until immune protection from vaccines has reached its maximum. Consult your healthcare provider to see if you should get vaccinated against monkeypox, and if you should receive ACAM2000 instead of JYNNEOS.