Should health care workers who care for suspected cases of monkeypox be vaccinated?
Previously or currently exposed health care workers should be vaccinated within the initial four days of direct exposure, but vaccination should also be considered for people who are within two weeks of their most recent exposure to a monkeypox case. Vaccination should occur as soon as possible after confirmed exposure. The vaccine site should be managed as recommended for health care workers in the pre-event smallpox vaccination guidance. Health care workers selected to care for monkeypox patients should, ideally, not have any of the contraindications to smallpox vaccination in the pre-event smallpox vaccination setting. Priorities should be given to using health care workers who were previously vaccinated and who had confirmed takes to care for these monkeypox patients. However, when necessary, health care workers may be vaccinated immediately prior to beginning their clinical care duties. Again, the vaccine site should be managed as recommended for health care workers in the pre-eve
