Boston Warns of Mpox Uptick, Offers 2-Dose Vaccines as US Logs 390 Cases in Q1

7 articles · Updated · Boston.com · May 29

Boston public health officials warned of a rise in local mpox cases and urged higher-risk residents to get vaccinated, while saying there is no widespread public health threat.
A city-run vaccination clinic will operate June 1 at Boston City Hall's Pride flag-raising event, with shots available from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and more clinics planned through the summer.
The mpox vaccine is given in 2 doses 28 days apart and is about 80% effective at preventing illness, while also reducing symptom severity, according to the Boston Public Health Commission.
Nationally, 390 mpox cases were reported in the first three months of 2026 after more than 2,500 US cases in 2025; globally, cases were up about 10.2% by March versus 2025.

With most mpox infections being asymptomatic, is the virus spreading far more widely than official numbers suggest?

New data reveals a greater mpox threat, yet vaccine rates are low. What will it take to bridge this dangerous gap?

As deadlier mpox strains emerge and a key treatment is sidelined, are our current defenses strong enough?