Monkeypox Vaccine Eligibility Expands In NJ As Cases Rise

NEW JERSEY — As monkeypox becomes more prevalent in the region, New Jersey expanded eligibility for the vaccine. The state stood at 49 cases as of Wednesday — more than double the total of 22 reported at that time last week, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

The state received 2,700 additional doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine. Previously, the shots were only available for residents with known exposure to a monkeypox case. The following people are now eligible for monkeypox vaccination in New Jersey:

• people who attended an event where known monkeypox exposure occurred
• gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary individuals and men who have sex with men
  • who also have had multiple sex partners or at least one anonymous sex partner within the past 14 days

Public-Health Messaging Vs. Stigma

Several LGBTQ organizations have criticized the public-health messaging on monkeypox that has put the spotlight on their community, drawing parallels to homophobic and incorrect public-health information that circulated during the emergence of AIDS.

GLAAD formed in 1985 to protest what it viewed as defamatory and sensationalized AIDS coverage in the New York Post. Decades later, GLAAD and LGBTQ advocates are sounding the alarm on how government officials and news media talk about monkeypox.

The organization has been somewhat of a liaison between health officials and the queer community as far as distributing information and helping people seek care. But GLAAD has emphasized the danger of messaging that leads people to believe the disease inherently affects LGBTQ individuals.

"As we saw with HIV, COVID-19, and now MPV (monkeypox), discrimination, disinformation, racism and systemic breakdowns in the health care system continue to challenge LGBTQ Americans’ health as well as public health and safety, especially for LGBTQ people of color," said DaShawn Usher, GLAAD’s director for communities of color. "All people are susceptible to MPV, but it showed up early in LGBTQ communities, resulting in additional stigma for us. We must keep our community safe and informed."

Public-health officials in the United States say that monkeypox has disproportionately impacted queer men. But the disease isn't sexually transmitted in the traditional sense. Monkeypox is spread through close contact, and anyone can get it.

"Rhetoric and click-bait headlines that state or imply that Monkeypox is a ‘gay’ or ‘bisexual’ disease is dangerous because it misinforms the public about who is at risk and how the virus is spread," according to the GMHC, an organization focused on ending the AIDS epidemic. "It also feeds those with a homophobic mentality who will only elevate unscientific information at the expense of public health and safety, particularly for gay and bisexual men."

The New Jersey Department of Health has provided limited information about monkeypox's spread within the state. The agency's monkeypox webpage features the state's overall case total of probable and confirmed cases. But up to this point, the state has declined to reveal case totals by county, or even which counties have at least one reported case — information that has been available with COVID-19 for two-plus years.

State officials have cited privacy concerns as their reason for withholding this information from the public. However, the monkeypox page prominently features an "alert" stating that "the U.S. Cases include individuals who self-identify as men who have sex with men, but monkeypox can spread from direct contact with any infected individual."

After state officials announced their plan for expanded vaccine eligibility, Patch asked whether they had any message on the overall stigma against LGBTQ individuals regarding monkeypox. Nancy Kearney, a spokesperson for the state health department, told Patch the following via email:

"Although many of the individuals in our state who have been affected by monkeypox are men who have had close social or intimate contact with other men, we want to remind residents that monkeypox can spread from anyone to any other person. Part of our responsibility is to educate people on their potential risks and what they can do to protect themselves.

While we are working to raise awareness among individuals currently at greater risk, the (Murphy) Administration wants to make it clear that this is a public health issue that can affect anyone regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. There is no shame in testing, diagnosis or treatment of monkeypox, and we encourage everyone to learn more about the virus so that they can take preventative measures or contact their health care provider as necessary to help protect themselves and others."

About The Vaccines And Outbreak

The JYNNEOS vaccine, which has been used for smallpox, also helps protect against monkeypox. The vaccine has a two-dose regimen.

Anyone with known exposure to the disease within the past 14 days should contact a health care provider or their local health department about testing and vaccine eligibility, the state health department says. Local health departments will continue contact-tracing efforts and "offer the vaccine to anyone identified as a close contact," according to state officials.

Eligible residents can find information on vaccine appointments through three community partners:

• Hyacinth AIDS Foundation/Project Living Out Loud!, Jersey City: 201-706-3480
• The Prevention Resource Network, a program of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, Asbury Park: 732-502-5100
• North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI), Newark: 973-483-3444, ext. 200

Monkeypox — part of the orthopox family of viruses — can affect anyone. The virus can cause flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes and a rash that often begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body, according to state officials.

The virus doesn't spread easily without close contact, according to the state health department. But it can spread from direct contact with any infected individual and by touching clothing, bedding, towels or surfaces exposed to someone with the virus.

People can take the following measures to prevent getting monkeypox, according to the CDC:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.
  • Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
  • Do not kiss, hug, cuddle, or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
  • Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Most cases have been found in northern New Jersey, state health officials told Patch last week. But Camden County also announced two cases as of July 13.