JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Biden Administration is ramping up its efforts against monkeypox.
U.S. health officials announced Thursday that an additional 1.8 million doses of the monkeypox vaccine will soon be available.
Now that the federal government is sending out more doses of the monkeypox vaccine, a much-awaited rollout of the vaccine has begun in Duval County, but it is only available to those in high-risk categories, such as gay and bisexual men, health care professionals and those who have had contact with monkeypox patients.
To get the shots, patients should contact their doctor. If they’re not providing it, you need to make an appointment with the health department by calling 904-253-1130.
The two-shot series will be administered at the Pearl Street Immunization Clinic. You’ll fill out a form to share your health history and the vaccine will be administered.
It’s a very simple shot that goes under the skin, and in four weeks, you’ll return for the second dose.
Other places like Sulzbacher and Agape Health are expected to offer the vaccine, as well, but only to the clients they serve, so for now, your best bet is to contact the health department if your doctor doesn’t offer the shots.
There are currently three confirmed cases of monkeypox in Duval County and 10 suspected cases.
The head of the Duval County Health Department issued a statement Thursday that read, in part:
We understand the growing concern over monkeypox, and we want our community to know that we hear this concern. As we move into Phase 3 of this vaccination effort, we are ensuring that community partners that request vaccine are receiving it to provide to their patients.
The vaccine is also available in Georgia.
The feds are also planning to make the vaccine available onsite at large-scale gatherings of gay and bisexual men -- a community hard-hit by the virus.
The U.S. is setting aside an extra 50,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine for places with upcoming gay pride events, health officials said Thursday.
The number of doses sent to each will be based on factors like the size of the event, how many health workers will be available to give shots, and how many of the attendees are considered at highest risk for catching the virus.
“More shots in arms is how we get the outbreak under control,” Bob Fenton, the White House monkeypox response coordinator, told reporters Thursday. He said the effort is an attempt to “meet people where they are.”
At least a dozen U.S. pride events are scheduled over the next two months, including large gatherings in Atlanta and New Orleans in early September. U.S. officials said they will send up to 2,000 additional doses to North Carolina, where the Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade will be held this weekend.
“While we are offering the vaccine at these events to those at high risk, this is a two-dose vaccine series, and receiving the vaccine at the event will not provide protection at the event itself,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Monkeypox is endemic in parts of Africa, where people have been infected through bites from rodents or small animals, but it wasn’t considered a disease that spreads easily among people until May, when infections emerged in Europe and the U.S.
There have been more than 39,000 cases reported in countries that have not historically seen monkeypox. The vast majority have occurred in men who have sex with men, but health officials stress that anyone can get monkeypox.
The U.S. has the most infections of any country — more than 13,500. About 98% of U.S. cases are men and about 93% were men who reported recent sexual contact with other men.
Officials say the virus has been spreading mainly through skin-on-skin contact, but they warn it might also transmit in other ways, including through touching linens used by someone with monkeypox.
People with monkeypox may experience fever, body aches, chills and fatigue. Many in the outbreak have developed extremely painful zit-like bumps. No one in the U.S. has died, but deaths have been reported in other countries.
The U.S. has a limited supply of what is considered the main weapon against the virus — a vaccine called Jynneos. The doses are currently being given to people soon after they think they were exposed. Scientists are still trying to establish how well the shots are working.
The government last week moved to stretch the supply by giving people one-fifth the usual dose, injected just under the skin, instead of a full vial injected into deeper tissue. Officials this week announced the release of 442,000 of the smaller doses for order by state, local and territorial health departments. On Thursday, they said more is coming next week — 1.8 million doses, or 360,000 vials.
Many health workers may have little experience giving shots using the just-under-the-skin method, which requires different needles and syringes. Some health departments and health centers, including in Atlanta and Los Angeles, have begun giving monkeypox shots in that manner, U.S. officials said. But some local officials have said they may need a week or more to make the change.
Also on Thursday, health officials said next week they will boost the supply of TPOXX, a drug for treating monkeypox infections, by 50,000 treatment courses.