Los Angeles County expands monkeypox vaccine eligibility, but stockpile still ‘extremely limited’

With nearly 10,000 new monkeypox vaccines in hand and a further 7,000 promised, Los Angeles County has once more expanded eligibility necessities for the shot — though the supply nonetheless falls far wanting with the ability to inoculate everybody in danger or within the safety.

“The availability of Jynneos vaccine from the federal authorities has been, and continues to be, extraordinarily restricted,” stated Andrea Kim, the county’s director of vaccine-preventable illness management.

She stated the brand new eligibility necessities, which embrace individuals who lately attended or labored at a business intercourse venue together with homosexual or bisexual males and transgender individuals who have sure sexually transmitted illness diagnoses, nonetheless comply with state and federal tips to “prioritize these at greater danger.”

Kim stated the outbreak in Los Angeles County continues to unfold primarily amongst males who’ve intercourse with males and transgender individuals, mirroring how the virus is spreading in different cities and worldwide — although anybody can turn into contaminated.

The variety of monkeypox circumstances in L.A. County has doubled within the final week, with 120 confirmed or possible circumstances as of Tuesday, in keeping with the Division of Public Well being.

Whereas the virus remains to be thought of a low danger for most people, LGBTQ leaders proceed to sound the alarm about monkeypox’s speedy unfold amongst queer communities, and have known as for a greater and extra complete response to the virus.

Kim stated Tuesday the county has acquired greater than 17,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine, which might be administered as much as 14 days after an publicity. The county, nonetheless, has administered or distributed to native clinics solely a couple of third of the present stockpile — 5,400 doses — she stated. About 7,000 extra doses are anticipated to reach this week.

The vaccine is a two-shot sequence given about 4 weeks aside, and individuals are thought of absolutely protected two weeks after the second dose, in keeping with the CDC.

Along with those that have had direct contact with a identified monkeypox case or had been at an occasion with a high-exposure danger — the teams eligible for vaccines for the reason that virus was first confirmed in L.A. in late June — officers expanded eligibility to incorporate those that have attended or labored at business intercourse venues or comparable locations that embrace nameless intercourse with a number of companions within the final 21 days.

The brand new standards additionally contains homosexual or bisexual males and transgender individuals who have been recognized with gonorrhea or early syphilis within the final 12 months. Earlier tips required a prognosis within the final three months. Additionally nonetheless eligible for the vaccine are sufferers receiving therapy for HIV.

The county additionally launched a web-based type to indicate the easiest way to obtain the vaccine. Residents can name 211 to get details about monkeypox, together with signing up for a vaccine.

Monkeypox is primarily transmitted by skin-to-skin contact with somebody who has a rash and pus-filled sores. It additionally might be transmitted via contact with virus-filled supplies, akin to bedding and towels, and doubtlessly via shut contact with respiratory droplets coming from an contaminated particular person’s mouth, nostril and eyes.

Officers are urging these at excessive danger of publicity to examine themselves and any sexual companions for indicators of an infection — akin to rashes, bumps, blisters and pus-filled sores — and search medical consideration, if obligatory. Different signs can embrace fever and headache, aches and swollen lymph nodes.

Nobody within the U.S. has died of monkeypox, and hospitalizations stay uncommon, however many males have reported extreme ache from the lesions, and signs can last as long as 4 weeks.