California Urges At-Risk Individuals to Get Mpox Vaccine
California health officials are advising at-risk populations to get the mpox vaccine as case numbers surge. This announcement from the California Department of Public Health was made this month.
San Francisco identified its first case of clade I mpox earlier in April, according to the CDPH, marking it as the seventh case of this variant in California since November 2024. Interestingly, cases of the milder clade II strain are also on the rise.
“As of 2026, California’s weekly average of clade II cases has more than doubled compared to previous years—14.5 cases per week this year compared to 5.8 in 2024 and 3.4 in 2025,” the California Department of Public Health stated in an April 17 press release. While the general public faces low risks of contracting the disease, the department is “strongly encouraging” at-risk groups, particularly gay and bisexual men, to get vaccinated. The two-dose vaccine provides protection against both clade I and clade II mpox.
One individual who contracted clade I after coming into contact with an international traveler has been hospitalized but is currently recovering, as noted in the CDPH release.
“CDPH is actively monitoring mpox cases across California. While clade I remains rare, we are seeing an uptick in clade II cases,” said Dr. Erica Pan, Director of CDPH, in the April 17 release. “This highlights the importance for high-risk individuals to receive both doses of the mpox vaccine. With summer travel and large events on the horizon, now is a great time to safeguard yourself if you or your partner may be at risk.”
Although rare in the U.S., the viral infection is known to be both painful and protracted. After close contact with an infected individual—typically through intimate skin-to-skin contact—those exposed often develop flu-like symptoms followed by a rash that resembles pimples, which can appear within four days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This rash can be painful and itchy, potentially blistering and scabbing, and it may take two to four weeks to clear, with the World Health Organization noting that the body could develop hundreds or even thousands of sores.
“Clade I mpox cases can be severe,” Dr. Rita Nguyen, assistant state public health officer, previously mentioned. This is particularly true for those with compromised immune systems. The San Francisco Department of Health recommends vaccination for anyone planning to visit areas where clade I mpox has been reported, including destinations in Europe and Africa, in addition to those deemed at-risk. Further details about getting vaccinated can be found on the California Department of Public Health’s website.
