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As cases of monkeypox continue to spread across the globe, people have shifted their questioning from "What is it?" to "How can I protect myself?" And as it turns out, some older people in the U.S. may still be somewhat protected from the virus due to a prior vaccination: the smallpox vaccine.

"Vaccination against smallpox also protects against monkeypox," Hannah Newman, MPH, director of epidemiology at Lenox Hill Hospital, told Health. "People who were vaccinated against smallpox years ago may have some immunity, or at least have some protection against milder illness if infected."

The U.S. officially stopped routine smallpox vaccination in 1972, after the disease was eradicated, but because of concern for bioterrorism, the government has a large stockpile of the smallpox vaccine—enough to vaccinate all Americans who would need protection, should a future outbreak occur.

So what does this all mean for the current uptick in monkeypox cases? How much protection does a previous smallpox vaccination give to older adults at risk of monkeypox? And how does the U.S. plan to distribute these vaccines for the current outbreak? Here's what to know.