The Biden administration is accelerating the distribution of monkeypox vaccines in the United States amid high demand, announcing plans to make an additional 1.8 million doses of the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine available in the coming days.
In conjunction with the boosted supply, up to 50,000 doses from the Strategic National Stockpile will be directed to a new pilot program by the Department of Health and Human Services that will work with states and localities to provide vaccinations at large LGBT events.
HHS APPROVES STRETCHING MONKEYPOX VACCINES THROUGH FIFTH-DOSES AS OUTBREAK GROWS
“Jurisdictions hosting these events can request to receive additional vaccine allocations based on the size and nature of the event and the ability to reach attendees who are the highest risk of monkeypox, largely right now men who are having sex with men,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said.
The HHS has already worked with health departments in North Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana to administer vaccines at future events, including the Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade.
Officials acknowledged that vaccinations would not prevent the spread of monkeypox, as the vaccine requires a second dose to be administered 28 days later. Vaccine recipients do not reach full immunity until two weeks after their second dose.
The administration also outlined efforts to make “50,000 patient courses” of Tpoxx available starting next week. Tpoxx, the only drug on the market to treat monkeypox currently, has been difficult to access for many people due to its limited supply.
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Over 13,500 cases of monkeypox have been identified across 49 states and Washington, D.C. Data show that 98% of the current cases are occurring in men and 93% of cases are among men who reported recent sexual history with other men, Walensky said.
