Feds Expand Monkeypox Vaccine Access: Will Virginia Get Doses?

VIRGINIA — As monkeypox cases continue to rise both globally and across the United States, orthopoxvirus vaccines are being made more readily available to those most at risk in the U.S., according to federal public health officials.

The vaccine won’t be available to everyone. The Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday it is prioritizing areas with the highest numbers of cases and those most at-risk for the illness.

There are 4,769 known cases of monkeypox globally, including 305 cases in the United States, as of Wednesday morning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Virginia is among those that have confirmed cases of monkeypox this year, with three reported cases. In neighboring jurisdictions, the District of Columbia has 20 confirmed cases, Maryland has five cases, and North Carolina has two.

California has the most confirmed monkeypox cases with 66, followed by New York with 63 and Illinois with 45.

Monkeypox, which is usually contained to central and west Africa, is a rare but potentially serious viral illness that typically spreads by skin-to-skin contact. Infections can cause flu-like symptoms as well as swelling of the lymph nodes and a rash. The rash usually contains bumps that initially fill with fluid before scabbing over, according to the CDC.

The symptoms could be confused with those of chicken pox or a sexually transmitted disease, such as syphilis or herpes. Infections can last up to four weeks.

Monkeypox and smallpox are both orthopoxviruses, and smallpox vaccines are effective against preventing the disease.

In areas with highest transmission, roughly 300,000 vaccines will be available in the coming weeks and another 750,000 doses will be available over the summer, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The vaccine that will be provided is the JYNNEOS vaccine, which is approved by the FDA to prevent smallpox, monkeypox and other diseases caused by orthopoxviruses.

Officials plan on allocating doses based on a four-tier system — prioritizing jurisdictions with the highest case rates and within each tier, vaccines will be distributed based on the number of people at risk for monkeypox who also have pre-existing conditions like HIV. Those who’ve had confirmed or a presumed exposure to monkeypox will also be prioritized.

“We are focused on making sure the public and health care providers are aware of the risks posed by monkeypox and that there are steps they can take — through seeking testing, vaccines and treatments — to stay healthy and stop the spread,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, said in a statement.

An older smallpox vaccine is in greater supply and health jurisdictions have the option of requesting shipments. However, the department warns that the vaccine has significant side effects and is not recommended for everyone.

The Virginia Department of Health alerted health care providers in Virginia about the rise in monkeypox cases on May 20 through a clinician letter. The VDH advised healthcare providers to report suspected cases immediately to their local health department.

On June 14, VDH shared additional information on the clinical presentation, testing, treatment, and postexposure prophylaxis with providers through another clinician letter. On June 24, the VDH reminded providers about the importance of recognizing and reporting suspected cases and available resources in another clinician letter.

On May 27, the CDC confirmed monkeypox in an adult female resident of Northern Virginia, the first case in Virginia. She had recent international travel to an African country where the disease is known to occur and was not infectious during travel. Since then, other cases in Virginia have been identified.

"For persons assessed as having a high-risk or intermediate-risk exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed monkeypox, vaccines are being offered to reduce the risk of infection," VDH Veterinary Epidemiologist Dr. Brandy Darby said in a statement emailed to Patch. "This is called postexposure prophylaxis."

Vaccines are also available in Virginia as pre-exposure prophylaxis for certain people at higher risk for monkeypox exposure through their work, such as laboratory staff members who work with monkeypox samples.

"Virginia state health officials are actively working with our federal partners to expand access to monkeypox vaccinations for Virginia residents who are at greater risk of exposure," Darby said.

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