Category: Monkey Pox Vaccine

(Editors Note: A prior version of this article was updated on August 9, to clarify monkeypox vaccine eligibility and which medical providers received allotments.)

The global monkeypox outbreak is occurring primarily in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. For the general public, the current risk of contracting monkeypox remains very low.

While vaccination is an important component in containing the outbreak, the demand currently outweighs supply. The region receives monkeypox vaccine from the California Department of Public Health based on a statewide allocation formula.

Given the limited vaccine supply at this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the monkeypox vaccine for the population most at risk. These are people exposed to someone who has already been diagnosed with confirmed or probable monkeypox infection and those with immunocompromising conditions who are at greater risk of developing severe disease or complications if they contract the virus.

This week 1,550 vaccine doses were allocated to the region and have been sent to designated healthcare systems, federally qualified health centers and clinics in the region. For those eligible and who also have a referral from a healthcare provider, vaccines are available by appointment only:

CountyPublic Health Centersalso have about 300 doses of vaccine available by appointment only and based on the eligibility criteria detailed above.

Testing is widely available through healthcare providers and involves using a swab to sample suspect skin lesions. People with no healthcare provider, who need testing, can call 2-1-1 to be referred to a provider. 2-1-1 is not presently providing vaccination appointments.

The monkeypox vaccine is a two-dose series, administered 28 days apart. Following guidance from the California Department of Public Health, given the low supply of vaccine, the County is presently recommending that first doses be administered to as many eligible people as possible. One dose of the monkeypox vaccine is 80% effective. Second doses will be administered when more vaccine is available.

Our goal is to get one dose into as many peoples eligible arms as possible, said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. When we get more vaccine, we can start giving second doses for even higher efficacy.

Since late May, the County has received 4,687 doses of monkeypox vaccine. Of those, 3,251 have been distributed and 2,267 have been administered. The number administered might be higher because it takes a few days for the vaccine registry to be updated. As more doses are allotted to the region, the County will expand distribution.

For more information about monkeypox, including risk-reduction measures that those at risk can take, visitthe Countys monkeypoxwebsite, which is updated at about 4 p.m. each weekday afternoon. To receive text messages about monkeypox, text COSD MONKEYPOX to 468-311.

Follow this link:

Monkeypox Vaccine: Who Is Eligible & Where They Can Get Vaccinated - countynewscenter.com

Country

United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People's Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People's Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People's Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People's Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People's Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, RevolutionaryPeople's Rep'c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People's RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People's RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People's Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People's RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe

Read more from the original source:

Kent County Health Department is allocated 20 doses of monkeypox vaccine - MyEasternShoreMD

People living with HIV and other immunocompromised medical conditions remain ineligible to receive the vaccine. They hope an increase in supply will change that.

HOUSTON The monkeypox virus continues to spread locally and nationwide.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports 9,492 cases in the U.S. The Texas Department of State Health Services says 701 of those are in Texas. Local health officials report 223 cases in Harris County including 195 in the city of Houston.

Now, local health departments are gearing up to administer more vaccines using a new method authorized by the FDA. It should increase the vaccine supply but for now, there are no changes to who is eligible for the shot.

That means people with HIV are still not eligible.

"I really feel unsafe," said Josh Mica.

Mica wishes he could roll up his sleeve to get the shot.

"I don't qualify," said Mica. "A lot of my friends have had to lie to get this vaccine."

Despite living with HIV, he and others with HIV and other immunocompromised conditions remain ineligible to receive the vaccine.

"They're marginalizing one community over another one, and this time they're marginalizing the HIV community," said Mica.

"We do fully recognize that people who have immunocompromised medical conditions like HIV are at increased risk for complications should they become infected," said Houston Health Authority Dr. David Persse.

But local health officials say it comes down to vaccine supply.

"Given the amount of vaccine we have, even with the expanded guidance for the vaccine, it's still not enough for all those who are potentially eligible," said Harris County Health Authority Dr. Ericka Brown.

The city and county are working to train their teams on how to administer the vaccine via 'intradermal injection' which means just under the skin. It's a smaller dose that will help increase vaccine supply.

"Once we get enough vaccine, we can broaden the criteria for people at higher risk of complications," said Persse.

In the meantime, Mica says he has no choice but to be extra careful.

"I don't go out and socialize with friends," said Mica. "We're going back to how things were with COVID."

County and city health officials say although most monkeypox cases are overwhelmingly among men who have sex with men, monkeypox is not an STD and not a virus only impacting one group of people.

"For whoever thinks this is a gay, MSM problem only, we are already seeing in the U.S. spread within households," said Persse. "The general public needs to know about this so they can protect themselves as well.

Both Houston Health and Harris County Public Health say they hope to be ready to administer the vaccine via the new method within a week's time.

They say they are still taking appointments for vaccinations to be administered via the previous method until intradermal injections are ready to go.

Read the original here:

Houston-area health departments prepare to administer monkeypox vaccine via new method in effort to increase supply - KHOU.com

New monkeypox vaccine plan may stretch nation's limited supply

The U.S. will use smaller doses of the monkeypox vaccine in order to stretch its supply.

Scott L. Hall, USA TODAY

What is monkeypox? How do you get? Whos at risk?

The viral disease has infected over9,000 people in the United States, many cases coming after the World Health Organizationdeclared it a public health emergency in July.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported55 cases in Tennessee, including at least one in Knox County.

To help dispel misinformation, Knox News spoke with Dr. Eric Penniman of Summit Medical Group at Middlebrook to get answers straight from a family medicine physician.

Dr. Eric Penniman: Its mostly spread through close and intimate contact with somebody who has it. So, it's not like COVID, which is spread through respiratory secretions and right now spreading very, very rapidly.

From USA TODAY: Biden administration declares monkeypox a public health emergency

Read this: As monkeypox spreads, vaccine is available in Knox County. Heres who needs it most.

(Monkeypox)does not spread rapidly because you have to have very close intimate contact, typically. But (theres over9,000)cases now in the US, so it's something that people should be aware of, particularly people who are high risk.

It's spread mostly through skin-to-skin contact, specifically the fluid of one of the pustular lesions that gets on someone else's skin or spread through respiratory secretions. So, direct kissing, sharing saliva, things like that. Now somebody coughs on you and you're in close proximity, there's a chance that you could get infected as well.

The high-risk group are men who have sex or intimate relations with men, and that's mostly what we're seeing. We've seen a few cases (between family members). Family members in close contact with somebody who is infected should take caution, for sure. But so far, it's mostly a sexually transmitted disease.

Although, there is a possibility that it could be spread through direct contact with the respiratory secretions of somebody infected.

If you're a human being you're slightly at risk, certainly. The high-risk people are the ones that were most focused on, communicating to and beginning to vaccinate those in the high-risk category because the whole point of declaring a public health emergency is so that we can increase the communication and get those people vaccinated who are in high-risk groups so that hopefully we can stop spread altogether.

It would be laboratory workers who are working with samples, testing for monkeypox, as well as men who have sex or intimate relations with men.

Right now, I think the only place to get the vaccine is through (the Knox County Health Department). They do have some monkeypox vaccines but in very small quantities. The government has committed to helping to ramp up the production so that we can get high-risk people vaccinated, which should hopefully prevent somebody from getting it. And it's even effective after someone has been exposed, specifically if it's within four days of being exposed to monkeypox, getting vaccinated may help that person avoid it altogether.

The incubation period is 3 to 17days.

Isolation of those infected is very, very important and we're early enough in this outbreak to halt it.

(Someone with monkeypox is)no longer contagious once their skin lesions have healed and new skin has grown over. At that point, they're no longer contagious. So, if there's (over9,000)cases in the United States, if those (9,000) plus Americans will stay isolated, then we should stop this spread of monkeypox throughout the United States.

Fact check: Monkeypox is not a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine, experts say

Be ready: It's almost time for back to school. It's time for you to talk about monkeypox.

The bottom line is that it's largely preventable with vaccines as well as responsible people who are infected isolating. And there are some treatments for monkeypox if somebody were to get infected. It's definitely not anything to be embarrassed about and not seek medical care.

If you think you have been in contact with somebody (infected), get a hold of your physician or your local health department right away so that appropriate measures can be taken.

End of Q&A with Dr. Penniman, which has been edited for clarity and length.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that typically starts with flu-like symptoms like fever, swollen glands, muscle aches and headaches, and then a rash usually develops a few days later.

However, with the 2022 worldwide outbreak, the rash tends to be the first symptom. Lesions are first appearing in the mouthanus, and genital areas.

The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.

Though the 2022 outbreak has been linked to sexual and intimate contact between men who have sex with men, the CDC does not classify monkeypox as asexually transmitted disease and some experts say it could be problematic to frame it as such or reporting it as an illness that is only affecting men who have sex with men.

"Many people (may) think, 'Well, I'm not having sex. I'm not a gay man. So, I'm good no matter what.' When in reality, monkeypox is a contact-based disease," Dr. Stella Safo, an HIV primary care physician and founder of Just Equity For Health recently told USA TODAY.

Vaccines for monkeypox are available at the Knox County Health Department but supply is limited and those who are high-risk should look get vaccinated.

Call the health department at 865-215-5000 for more information about monkeypox vaccine access and monkeypox information.

Read more here:

Monkeypox symptoms and vaccines: Tennessee doctor on what to know - Knoxville News Sentinel

Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) has received limited, additional doses of monkeypox vaccine from the federal government. MCDPH is prioritizing vaccinating those who are at highest risk of exposure to slow the spread of disease in accordance with federal requirements.

In this outbreak we know that some people are at higher risk of getting monkeypox than others, just like some groups are hit harder by diseases like cardiovascular disease or asthma, said Dr. Nick Staab, medical epidemiologist at MCDPH. At this stage in the outbreak, for most people, the overall risk of being exposed to monkeypox remains very low. For household and social contacts of people who have gotten monkeypox and others at increased risk, we want to make sure they get the protection they need so we can slow the spread at this early stage.

With vaccines coming in varying quantities at irregular intervals, MCDPH is asking people who are interested in getting vaccinated to let MCDPH know so that they can be notified as vaccine doses become available. People can check eligibility atMaricopa.gov/monkeypox, where they will also find a form to get notified about upcoming vaccine opportunities.

Monkeypox is most commonly spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infected with monkeypox. Prevention measures for monkeypox are similar to those that reduce the spread of other viruses that spread in a similar way:

Symptoms often start with a fever, which may be accompanied by:

One to three days after fever starts, a rash begins, often starting on the face before spreading to other parts of the body. The rash may begin as small, flat, round discolorations that become raised and fluid-filled (clear or pus) before scabbing. These spots and the fluid in them carry virus that can infect others. Once scabs fall off, the area is no longer infectious. These spots or lesions can appear anywhere on the skin, genitals, or inside the mouth. MCDPH is encouraging healthcare providers to offer testing for patients who present with monkeypox symptoms and a new, suspicious rash. Most patients with monkeypox fully recover from the virus without treatment.

We have the tools we need to contain spread, added Dr. Staab. Vaccines are available to those who are at higher risk of exposure, testing is available through commercial labs, and treatment is available for people who are infected and at higher risk of severe illness. With a federal emergency now declared, there may be more vaccine doses and other resources that will be available in the coming weeks and months.

For local information, visitMaricopa.gov/monkeypox; for national information, visitCDC.gov/monkeypox. Residents needing assistance with the website or interest form can contact MCDPH at (602) 506-6767 for assistance.

Vaccine images and B-roll are available upon request.

Continued here:

Maricopa County Prioritizes Limited Supply of Monkeypox Vaccine for High-Risk Individuals | Arizona Emergency information Network - az.gov

WASHINGTON The Biden administration has decided to stretch out its limited supply of monkeypox vaccine by allowing a different method of injection that uses one-fifth as much per shot, according to people familiar with the discussions.

In order for the Food and Drug Administration to authorize so-called intradermal injection, which would involve injecting one-fifth of the current dose into the skin instead of a full dose into underlying fat, the Department of Health and Human Services will need to issue a new emergency declaration allowing regulators to invoke the F.D.A.s emergency use powers. That declaration is expected as early as Tuesday afternoon.

The move would help alleviate a shortage of vaccine that has turned into a growing political and public health problem for the administration.

In less than three months, more than 8,900 monkeypox cases have been reported. The virus spreads from person to person primarily through close physical contact with infectious lesions.

What is monkeypox? Monkeypox is a virus similar to smallpox,but symptoms are less severe. It was discovered in 1958, after outbreaks occurred in monkeys kept for research. The viruswas primarily found in parts of Central and West Africa, butrecently it has spread to dozens of countries and infected tens of thousands of people, overwhelmingly men who have sex with men.

How does it spread? The monkeypox virus can spread from person to person through close physical contactwith infectious lesions or pustules, by touching items like clothing or bedding that previously touched the rash, or via the respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. Monkeypox can also be transmitted from mother to fetus via the placenta or through close contact during and after birth.

I fear I might have monkeypox. What should I do? There is no way to test for monkeypox if you have only flulikesymptoms. But if you start to notice red lesions, you should contact an urgent care center or your primary care physician, who can order a monkeypox test. Isolate at home as soon as you develop symptoms, and wear high-qualitymasks if you must come in contact with others for medical care.

I live in New York. Can I get the vaccine? Adult men who have sex with men and who have had multiple sexual partners in the past 14 days are eligible for a vaccine in New York City, as well as close contacts of infected people. Eligible people who have conditions that weaken the immune system or who have a history of dermatitis or eczema are also strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. People can book an appointment through this website.

Even though it invested more than $1 billion in developing the two-dose vaccine known as Jynneos that works against both monkeypox and smallpox, the government has only 1.1 million shots on hand. It needs about three times as many doses to cover the 1.6 million to 1.7 million Americans who, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are at high risk of contracting monkeypox.

The vaccine is currently delivered in two 0.5-milliliter doses 28 days apart, with immune protection reaching its maximum 14 days after the second dose, according to the C.D.C.

The shot is recommended by the C.D.C. for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and those who might be likely to get it. Those in the latter category include people identified as a contact of someone with monkeypox, those who know a sexual partner from the last 14 days was diagnosed with the disease and those who have had multiple sexual partners in that time frame in an area with known monkeypox.

Federal health officials said last week that so far, they have distributed about 600,000 doses of the vaccine to state and local jurisdictions.

The Department of Health and Human Services last week also issued a broader public emergency declaration that allowed the federal government to more easily allot money and other resources to fight the virus.

What we consider before using anonymous sources. How do the sources know the information? Whats their motivation for telling us? Have they proved reliable in the past? Can we corroborate the information? Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source.

Research on intradermal injection of the monkeypox vaccine is essentially limited to one study. It showed that when the vaccine was injected between skin layers, it induced an immune response comparable to that from a standard injection into the fat underneath the skin. Federal officials have consulted with a variety of outside groups about switching to the intradermal injection approach, including the Infectious Diseases Society of America, according to people familiar with the talks.

Some outside experts have criticized the data backing up the method for monkeypox as too thin and narrowly focused. The governments decision to go with it is heavily based on a 2015 study that was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. John Beigel, an N.I.H. associate director of clinical research who has briefed federal health officials and the World Health Organization, said that switching to the intradermal method was a better option for preserving vaccine than administering just one of the two recommended doses, as some jurisdictions now do. One shot does not prompt nearly as strong an immune response as two, he said.

The upside is you can stretch out doses, said John P. Moore, a virologist at Weill Cornell Medicine. The downside is, if you cut it too far or take too many liberties, you reduce the efficacy. And how are you going to know that? Its educated guesswork.

The intradermal method can be complicated for vaccinators, who must guide a needle into a thin space. If a vaccinator goes too deep and inserts the dose into fat, the patient might not receive enough vaccine, experts say. But if the needle is not inserted far enough, some of the vaccine could leak back out.

Such shots typically induce more redness and swelling, but are less painful than a standard injection, the 2015 study showed.

They have previously been used in polio vaccination campaigns, for rabies and with tuberculosis skin tests.

The National Institutes of Health had planned further studies into how well such shots work with the monkeypox vaccine, but the results were not expected until the late fall or early winter. Over the weekend, top federal officials came to a consensus that the government needed to embrace the approach now.

Read the rest here:

U.S. Moves to Stretch Out Monkeypox Vaccine Supply - The New York Times

The United States has declared a public health emergency for monkeypox, raising awareness of the outbreak hitting more than 70 countries across the world.

The big picture: Two-thirds of Americans said in a survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center that they don't think there's a vaccine for monkeypox or they aren't sure. But there is and here's what you need to know about it.

There are two vaccines that are used to prevent monkeypox infections, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Both vaccines are smallpox vaccines, which are believed to be effective at preventing monkeypox.

Worth noting: There is currently a limited supply of the Jynneos vaccine. The United States has been placing orders for the vaccine to handle the growing demand for vaccination, health officials told reporters Thursday.

The Jynneos vaccine includes a live virus that doesn't replicate and is associated with fewer adverse effects, the CDC said.

But ACAM2000 is distributed by multiple punctures, leading to potential scarring. The stainless steel needle is dipped into a reconstituted vaccine a method often used for orthopoxvirus vaccinations, the CDC said.

Several observational studies found the smallpox vaccine is 85% effective in preventing monkeypox, the World Health Organization said.

However, this is based on research from the 1980s based on a monkeypox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Heinz Weidenthaler, vice president of clinical strategy at Bavarian Nordic, which makes the Jynneos vaccine, told MIT Technology Review that animal studies found the vaccine offers 80 to 100% protection against the disease.

Worth noting: The CDC said there is no data available for the effectiveness of the vaccines for the current monkeypox outbreak.

The Jynneos vaccine contains a live weakened virus related to monkeypox and smallpox that does not replicate within the human body, per the CDC. You cannot catch monkeypox or smallpox from the vaccine, New York state health officials said.

The ACAM2000 vaccine contains a live version of the Vaccinia virus that is replicated, allowing your body to develop immunity.

For the Jynneos vaccine, adverse reactions include pain, swelling and redness at the spot of injection, according to the CDC.

The ACAM2000 monkeypox vaccine has similar physical side effects from the shot but comes with a higher risk of adverse effects, including myocarditis and/or pericarditis, the CDC said.

The CDC has limited eligibility for those who want a monkeypox vaccine.

What's next: U.S. health officials said Thursday that nearly 800,000 monkeypox vaccine doses will be made available soon for distribution

Go deeper ... 1 in 5 Americans fear they'll get monkeypox

Continue reading here:

Monkeypox vaccination: Who is eligible for the vaccine in the US - Axios

Los Angeles County and the city will open a monkeypox vaccination site at Barnsdall Art Park tomorrow, but it will only offer vaccines to people who pre-registered with the county and have been notified that a shot is available.

The new site at 4800 Hollywood Blvd. in the East Hollywood area is expected to vaccinate about 300 people per day, operating from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, according to county Supervisor Hilda Solis' office.

Monkeypox vaccines remain in short supply, so the site will not be open to walk-in visitors seeking an inoculation. Shots will only be distributed to people who pre-registered and received a text message from the county notifying them that a dose is available.

As the monkeypox outbreak continues, it is critical that we increase accessibility to the vaccine for at-risk communities, Solis said in a statement. With the launch of the monkeypox vaccination site at Barnsdall Park, L.A. County is making it easier for residents in hard-hit communities to get vaccinated. I encourage residents to assess their risk and take steps to protect themselves from monkeypox as we wait for additional doses to Los Angeles County.''

The county declared a local emergency in response to the monkeypox outbreak last week. The state and federal government have also issued such declarations.

According to the county, there were 616 confirmed or presumed cases in the county as of Monday, up from about 500 on Friday. The vast majority of patients are men, with most of them being members of the LGBT community, according to the county.

Monkeypox is generally spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting from infectious rashes and scabs, though respiratory secretions and bodily fluids exchanged during extended physical episodes, such as sexual intercourse, can also lead to transmission, according to the CDC. It can also be transmitted through the sharing of items such as bedding and towels.

Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.

Symptoms include fresh pimples, blisters, rashes, fever and fatigue. There is no specific treatment. People who have been infected with smallpox, or have been vaccinated for it, may have immunity to monkeypox.

According to health officials, the vaccine can prevent infection if given before or shortly after exposure to the virus.

Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men are at increased risk of contracting the virus, according to the CDC.

The county has been slowly expanding eligibility for the JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine, but supplies remain extremely limited.

In Los Angeles County, monkeypox vaccines are available to people confirmed by the Department of Public Health to have had high- or immediate-risk contact with a known monkeypox patient, and to people who attended an event or visited a venue where they was a high risk of exposure to a confirmed case. Those people are generally identified through county contact-tracing efforts, and they will be notified by the county.

Shots are also available for gay and bisexual men and transgender people with a diagnosis of rectal gonorrhea or early syphilis within the past year. Also eligible for the shots are gay or bisexual men or transgender people who are on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxix, or PrEP, or who attended or worked at a commercial sex venue or other venue where they had anonymous sex or sex with

multiple partners -- such as at a sauna, bathhouse or sex club -- in the past 21 days.

Eligibility was expanded last week to include gay or bisexual men or transgender people aged 18 and older who have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the past 14 days.

People who believe they fall into any of the criteria can contact their health care provider to see if that provider can administer the vaccine.

Qualified people who do not have a health care provider -- or whose provider does not carry the vaccine -- can either make an appointment at a designated vaccine clinic or visit a walk-in location. Information is available at ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypox. A list of monkeypox vaccine locations is available at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/chs/DPHMonkeypoxSchedule.pdf.

The county last week activated a website -- ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypoxsignup -- where residents can fill out an online form to see if they may be eligible for a shot and pre-register to be added to a waiting list. But due to overwhelming demand and limited vaccine supplies, the pre-registration process was put on hold late last week.

The county last week also opened a monkeypox vaccination site at the West Hollywood Library, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd., for people who pre-registered for the vaccine. It will be open by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The vaccine is a two-shot regimen, so additional supplies will be reserved to provide second doses to those who received the initial shot.

See original here:

Monkeypox Vaccination Site to Open in East Hollywood Tuesday - NBC Southern California

Connecticut rolled out monkeypox testing and vaccination centers this week as cases continued to rise in the state and nationwide. As of Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 39 cases of monkeypox in Connecticut. The state Department of Public Health says shots are available for queer men and transgender adults over the age of 18 who have had multiple or anonymous sex partners within the last 14 days.

Connecticut Public visited Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) on Tuesday and heard from patients and providers who say theyve been eagerly awaiting doses of the Jynneos vaccine.

As soon as I saw that first clinic pop up, I just really wanted to get an appointment, said Christopher Marsala, a Branford native who now lives in New London. Because its critical to be part of the solution. Just knowing that it's affecting [...] men who were having sex with men. [...] And being able to have empowered agency with health care, that makes me feel really great.

Efforts to distribute preventive doses of the vaccine are focused on queer men and transgender adults, health officials say, because transmission for this outbreak so far has been concentrated among this population. But all people are at risk of contracting the virus, through any physical contact with anyone who has monkeypox lesions on their skin or by coming into contact with items like bedsheets that symptomatic people have touched.

Ryan Caron King

/

Connecticut Public

Theres nothing that makes one community more likely to get it than any other, said Jennifer Suski, medical director of the LGBTQ+ care program at FHCHC. It just happens to be where weve seen the outbreak so far. But really, this is a disease that can affect anybody.

Testing is available for anybody who believes they may have been exposed to the virus.

You can get the vaccine within four days of a known exposure, and that can help prevent the virus as well, Suski said.

Practitioners at the clinic said there has been significant demand for the vaccine.

The response was tremendous, so weve had to get more vaccine to accommodate everybody, said Wendy Cusick, program director of LGBTQ+ care at FHCHC. We did get more vaccine promised [Tuesday], another 50 doses. But we could probably use that up this week. So hopefully there will be more coming to the state.

Connecticut public health officials pleaded for the federal government to fast-track vaccine production earlier this week.

For more information about monkeypox, testing and vaccinations, visit the Connecticut Department of Health monkeypox webpage.

This post has been updated to reflect the number of days vaccines are available for eligible candidates with known exposures.

Read the rest here:

Monkeypox vaccine supply is limited, but this clinic is helping eligible residents - Connecticut Public

Monkeypox in Erie: Denise Johnson, M.D., PA secretary of health

Denise Johnson, M.D., Pennsylvania's physician general and acting secretary of health, talks about monkeypox during a visit to Erie on July 14.

David Bruce, Erie Times-News

Erie County residents at high risk of getting monkeypox, but haven't been exposed to the virus, could soon be eligible for vaccines.

The Erie County Department of Health will receive 80 more doses of JYNNEOS vaccine later this week or early next week, said Erin Mrenak, director of the county health department. It received an initial batch of 40 doses about two weeks ago.

More: Monkeypox vaccine available at Erie County Department of Health

"As our capacity increases, we will be able to expand vaccinations to other eligible groups or conduct pre-exposure vaccinations," Mrenak said. "We will follow state health department guidelines."

Vaccinations currently are limited mostly to people who have been in close contact with those diagnosed with the viral illness. Only one confirmed case of monkeypox has been found in the county.

More: Monkeypox arrives in Erie, public health threat less because spread is slower

A monkeypox outbreak has been spreading around the world since it was first detected earlier this year. The virus spreads through prolonged and close skin-to-skin contact, which can include hugging, cuddling and kissing, as well as through the sharing of bedding, towels and clothing.

People getting sick so far have mainly been men who have sex with men, though the virus can infect anyone, Mrenak said.

More: Monkeypox is spreading through sex, but it's not an STD. Why calling it one is a problem.

"Monkeypox is not an STD, though it can be spread through sexual practice," Mrenak said. "It can be spread through respiratory droplets, exposure to open sores or sharing certain objects."

More: After repeating early COVID mistakes, US now has the worlds biggest monkeypox outbreak

One problem with containing the monkeypox outbreak is a lack of free testing. Though testing is available at many local clinics and physician offices, Mrenak said free testing is not yet available.

"It's a concern because of the number of people who don't have a primary-care physician or don't have health insurance," Mrenak said. "We are working on coming up with solutions for that."

The primary symptom of monkeypox is a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus,according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. A person can also develop flu-like symptoms like a fever, headache and chills.

More: Addressing myths about monkeypox: A look at symptoms, treatment and other common questions

Most people who develop monkeypox recover completely within a month, local health officials have said. The mortality rate is 1% to 3%.

If you think you have been exposed to monkeypox or have the virus, contact your doctor or call the county health department at 814-451-6700.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Contact David Bruce atdbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter@ETNBruce.

Continued here:

Erie to receive more monkeypox vaccine to fight worldwide outbreak - GoErie.com