Vaccination against mpox

Mpox is still here. That's why you can now protect yourself again with free vaccination against this disease. The vaccination is only for people who are more likely to get mpox. Ask about it during your STI consultation or make an appointment.

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Check if vaccination is for you

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For whom

Who can get a vaccination against mpox?

The staff at the GGD will discuss with you whether you are at risk for mpox infection.

Vaccination is a good idea if you are male or transgender person and have sex with men or transgender persons and meet one or more of these points:

  • You've had 10 or more sex partners in the past 6 months
  • You have sex in a sex club, sauna or other sex venue
  • You have group sex or sometimes go to sex parties
  • You (sometimes) get paid for sex

Are you taking PrEP? Or do you have HIV and are regularly tested for hepatitis C? Then, it is also recommended to get vaccinated against mpox.

Fully vaccinated = 2 shots

The vaccination consists of 2 shots. Have you already had 1? Then you can request your second shot now. Were you vaccinated against smallpox before 1975? Then 1 shot against mpox is sufficient. Except for when you have HIV. Then you should get 2 new shots. If you've already had 2 shots, you won't get an extra shot now. The vaccine protects from 2 weeks after the second shot.

Check if vaccination is for you or

Make an appointment

No invitation needed!

You can be vaccinated against mpox again. No invitations will be sent out this time. Anyone at risk of getting mpox may report to the GGD for a vaccination. The GGD worker will then determine with you whether you need the vaccination.

Are you in doubt? With the Mpox Advice Tool, you can quickly make a good assessment of whether mpox vaccination is for you!

Mpox Advice Tool

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FAQ mpox-vaccination

Frequently Asked Questions about mpox vaccination

  • Have you (for example, in 2022 or 2023 during the mpox epidemic) already had one shot against mpox? Then you are not yet fully vaccinated. Make an appointment for the second shot. It doesn't matter that there is a lot of time between the 2 shots, you don't have to start the vaccination all over again.

    Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child (born before 1975)? Then one shot against mpox is enough. If you have HIV, you need two shots, even if you were previously vaccinated against smallpox.

  • An extra shot (booster shot) against mpox is not necessary, nor does the GGD put more than the 2 shots needed for a full vaccination. Would you still like a booster shot? And do you live in the Amsterdam, The Hague or Leiden region? Then you can participate in research by the LUMC into the effect of booster shots. Read more about this mpox booster shot study from the LUMC.

    Do you have HIV and were vaccinated against smallpox as a child (before 1975)? And did you have 1 shot against mpox after that? Then you have to get an extra shot. The advice for people with HIV and smallpox vaccination has changed from 1 to 2 mpox shots.

  • You can get quite sick from it, with symptoms such as fever, headache and sometimes rectal inflammation. After a few weeks, those symptoms pass. The painful sores (pox) that develop can leave scars. Some people notice little or nothing when they have mpox. People with underlying conditions can become very seriously ill from it. Read more about mpox.

    Vaccination reduces your chances of getting mpox and developing severe symptoms.

  • It does not make sense to vaccinate everyone against mpox. After all, by no means everyone is at risk for mpox. Nor is there enough vaccine available to vaccinate everyone. Vaccinating people at high risk of mpox infection protects everyone.

  • Yes, this is possible. If you have sex within the gay scene and meet one or more of the conditions, vaccination against mpox may also be useful for people who are non-binary. Discuss with your GGD worker whether you qualify for vaccination.

  • The GGD will start vaccinating against mpox on April 14 2025. Some GGDs may not start until several weeks later. If you want to be sure to get your full mpox vaccination, make your first appointment on time. 

    There is at least 4 weeks between your first and second shots. It takes 2 weeks after your second shot until you are properly protected. So plan at least 6 weeks (or better: 2 months) before your summer vacation or before Pride and festival season rolls around!

  • A new variant of mpox has been circulating since 2024, especially in countries in southern Africa. The vaccine against mpox (originally developed against smallpox) also works against this variant.

  • Yes, you can. The vaccination is designed for people at high risk for mpox infection. If you are at risk, you can get a vaccination. Talk to your GGD worker about whether you need a vaccination. You do not need an invitation to make an appointment for mpox vaccination.

  • If you received an invitation for an mpox vaccination in 2022 but did not use it, you can still get a vaccination. You don't need an invitation this time.

  • There are currently very few cases of mpox in the Netherlands, about 15 infections found per month. However, the virus has not completely disappeared. It is important to remain vigilant. The new variant of mpox (1b) is also being found in the Netherlands since October 2025.

    If you are vaccinated, the likelihood of getting mpox is reduced, but it can still occur. The same applies if you have had mpox before. Therefore, continue to watch for symptoms.

    When you have the virus, it is important not to have sexual contact and to cover the scabs on your skin before meeting other people. This can be done with clothing or bandages. The scabs can also transmit mpox.

    • If you cover them properly, you do not need to isolate.
    • If you cannot cover the scabs, isolate yourself and wait until the scabs have fallen off before going outside. Also, do not receive visitors at home.
    • You can find more isolation guidelines for mpox on the RIVM website.

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Read further

  • Mpox

    There was an outbreak of mpox (monkeypox) in Europe. Symptoms include skin rash and fever. It’s not an STD, but it can spread through sex.

  • Do this if you have mpox

    If you have mpox, you must wait until your body has killed the virus. There are a few things you can do to ease the pain and the itching from mpox.