Applications are being taken for a new program designed to get monkeypox vaccine to population that may face barriers such as location of vaccination sites, vaccine hesitancy and immigration status.
The Monkeypox Vaccine Equity Pilot Program was launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with up to 50,000 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine committed for distribution.
“We have a responsibility to address inequities that have been highlighted by this outbreak, and this program will help make a difference,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “This outbreak is affecting members of the gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men community at an unequal rate, and it has disproportionately affected the Black and Hispanic communities.”
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She said the goal of the program is to address and reduce the disparities in distribution and vaccine availability.
During a virtual media briefing held Sept. 15, Bob Fenton, the monkeypox response coordinator for the White House, said the new program will enhance work being done through the large event pilot program.
“Over 3,300 shots were administered at Southern Decadence in New Orleans. Over 1,000 shots were administered at Oakland Pride, and over 4,000 shots were administered at Black Friday in Atlanta. And we recently were notified that Charlotte administered an additional 1,500 doses in the days following Charlotte Pride last month, bringing the total vaccine administration as part of the pilot program to nearly 11,000 doses,” he reported.
He said, like the new program, the large event program is designed to reach black and brown communities to vaccinate thousands of people at high risk.
Effective immediately, local, state and territorial health departments can partner to submit requests for monkeypox vaccine. Tribal governments and non-governmental organization can also participate in the program. The application process is available on the CDC website. https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/health-departments/vaccine-equity-pilot.html
“Health departments will use their local experience and connection to the community to identify hyperlocal strategies to improve vaccine access to communities of color, specifically those that are overrepresented in this outbreak,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, deputy director for the White House monkeypox response team. “CDC will provide them with vaccine materials and the technical assistance needed to realize these local interventions. And it will help us learn what works to get needed monkey pox vaccine and services to populations.”
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Fenton cited a University of Pennsylvania that shows a substantial increase in the number of American with knowledge of the vaccine. It jumped from a third of Americans to nearly 60% who also understand the risk profile and behaviors. The report also said near three quarters of Americans said they would get vaccinated if exposed to the virus.
He also pointed to the latest figures, showing an overall decline in the rate of new cases.
“Overall new case numbers are down nearly 50% Since early August, and in places like Atlanta, where we’ve worked closely with the public health community to surge vaccines, and information around events like Black Pride, the rate of new cases has steadily declined. And in DC the new cases have declined 20% on average per week, since a peak in mid-July,” he said.
The CDC said, as of Sept. 14, more that 59,600 cases have been confirmed in 103 countries. In the U.S., nearly 23,000 cases have been identified across all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
