Mpox Toolkit for Owners and Employees of Sex-On-Premises/Commercial Sex Venues
Who should use this toolkit?
Owners, managers, and staff of sex-on-premises or commercial sex venues.
What is this toolkit about?
This toolkit provides mpox information and resources to help prevent the spread of mpox for people that work in any venue where sex may occur.
How should I use this toolkit?
To find key resources on mpox, including links to resources that can be printed out and posted as well as shared electronically.
Owners and managers of sex-on-premises/commercial sex venues, which include sex clubs, bath houses, or businesses with back rooms, can review the Considerations for Reducing Mpox Transmission in Congregate Living Settings. Congregate settings deal with many of the same issues as commercial or sex-on-site venues, such as staff safety, infection prevention and control, cleaning and disinfecting, laundry and waste management, and health communication.
In addition to adapting these considerations, venues can:
- Contact your local health department about eligibility for staff to be vaccinated for mpox, especially if mpox has been spread among patrons at your business. Note: Vaccination criterion differ by jurisdiction and may change. Mpox vaccines are free. Providers must give the vaccine regardless of ability to pay the administration fee. Providers may bill a program or plan that covers the mpox vaccine administration fee (like private insurance or Medicare/Medicaid).
- Ensure that workers with mpox follow recommended isolation practices.
- Owners and managers may consider offering telework or flexible, non-punitive sick leave to workers with mpox.
- Work with your state, tribal, local, or territorial health department to identify and monitor the health of workers who might have had close contact with someone who has mpox
- Remember that, in general, people who have been exposed to mpox do not need to quarantine or be restricted from work if they remain asymptomatic
- Partner with your local health department to provide discreet and respectful on-site vaccine events for patrons and staff.
- Consider passive screening like posting information to discourage those with symptoms from entering and encouraging them to seek medical attention.
- Consider ways to engage your staff and venue patrons on awareness of healthy sexual decision making, including STI and HIV testing and prevention.
- Provide fact-based information to staff and venue patrons about mpox symptoms and prevention through printed materials, internal signage, and/or on your website or social media channels.