Starting April 14, 2025, men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender individuals at higher risk for mpox can receive a free vaccination. This can be done on their own initiative at the Sexual Health Centers of the GGD Municipal Health Service (Municipal Health Service). The aim of this vaccination is to prevent infections and future outbreaks and to ensure that as few people as possible become ill.
At the end of 2024, a group of experts (response team) advised offering vaccination to men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender individuals at increased risk for mpox. The Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport has adopted this advice.
People can receive the vaccine if they fall within the specified target groups and meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Use hiv human immunodeficiency virus (human immunodeficiency virus)-PrEP pre-exposure prophylaxis (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent HIV infection.
- On the waiting list for HIV PrEP.
- Have had more than 10 sexual partners in the past six months.
- Visit sex venues and/or sex parties.
- Engage in group sex.
- Have HIV and are regularly tested for hepatitis C.
Information about the mpox vaccination
A complete vaccination consists of two shots. There must be at least 4 weeks between the two shots.
- If you had a smallpox vaccination as a child, you only need 1 shot.
- If you have had a mpox infection before, one shot is no longer needed.
- If you were fully vaccinated against mpox in 2022 or 2023, you do not need to be vaccinated again. Currently, no booster shot against mpox is being given.
More information and making an appointment
For more information, see the websites Soaaids.nl (external link) and Mantotman.nl (external link). These websites provide information for the general public and MSM men who have sex with men (men who have sex with men) specifically (Dutch and English). You will find frequently asked questions and general information about sex and mpox, in Dutch and English.
When and how you can make an appointment for a vaccination varies by GGD Municipal Health Service (Municipal Health Service) region. Therefore, check the overview of start dates and contact details (external link) for all GGD regions for more information.