The United States government sends hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses to states to boost efforts to curb the transmission of monkeypox disease by expanding access to high-risk individuals.
The strategy aims to combat monkeypox in regions with the highest transmission and need calls for rapidly increasing access to doses of Bavarian Nordic's Jynneos vaccine, which has previously been limited, as per a report from The Guardian.
The ACAM2000 vaccine from Emergent BioSolutions, which is available in greater quantities but has more adverse effects and is not for everyone, including people who are immunocompromised, can also be ordered by state and municipal health authorities.
Officials said the Biden administration would provide 296,000 doses of Jynneos from a national stockpile to states and territories in the upcoming weeks, with 56,000 to be distributed right away and 1.6 million over the following months. Two doses of the Jynneos vaccine must be administered four weeks apart.
There are more than 4,700 confirmed cases of monkeypox worldwide in 49 different countries. While the United States has reported 306 infections since the first case of the year was discovered in Massachusetts last month.
Fox News reported California has the worst outbreak with 66 cases, followed by New York with 63 and Illinois with 45, based on CDC data.
Alarming Numbers
Monkeypox, like smallpox, produces painful skin sores. Although the virus is prevalent in some regions of Africa, the current outbreak has affected nations where it does not typically spread, raising fears that it may spread even further. Males who have intercourse with other men have a high risk of contracting the disease.
The rise of monkeypox in several nations throughout the world is alarming, but according to an independent group of experts from the World Health Organization, it does not represent a public health emergency of international concern, as per a report from VOA.
The vaccine has been in greater demand lately. A New York clinic began providing the vaccination last week and rapidly ran out of injections.
Vaccines Must Be Rolled Out as Soon as Possible
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said at a media conference: "As additional supply becomes available, we will further expand our efforts, making vaccines available to a wider population."
According to Dr. Walensky at the Tuesday briefing, officials have recently begun advising immunization for persons identified by contact tracing as potentially exposed to monkeypox.
She claimed that the lack of vaccines played a major role in this strategy.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, sees the bright side of the monkeypox transmissions.
"The good news is on this outbreak, we have had no deaths so far, thanks in large part to vaccines, tests, treatments, and the effectiveness of our health care system," the expert said.
The first two major cities to start dispensing monkeypox vaccines recently were New York City and Washington, D.C., but health officials reported that supplies had run out.
The CDC on Tuesday said it has activated the Emergency Operations Center in response to the epidemic per US News. According to the agency, the move will enhance "monitoring and coordinating the emergency response to monkeypox and mobilizing additional CDC personnel and resources."
Related Article : CDC Activates Emergency Operation Center To Address Monkeypox as US Plans Release of 1.6 Million Vaccines
