Feds Expand Monkeypox Vaccine Access: Will Massachusetts Get Doses?

MASSACHUSETTS — Monkeypox cases are on the rise both globally and throughout the United States, to combat this, orthopoxvirus vaccines are being made more readily available to those with the highest risk, federal public health officials said.

As of Wednesday morning, there are 4,769 cases of monkeypox across the globe, with 305 cases in the United States and 13 in Massachusetts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. said.

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.

Massachusetts is among 28 states with confirmed cases of monkeypox this year. The first confirmed case of monkeypox was found in a Massachusetts man back in May who had recently traveled to Canada.

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

Monkeypox, which is usually contained in 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 in preventing the disease.

In areas with the 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 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.