Feds Expand Monkeypox Vaccine Access: Will Washington Get Doses?

WASHINGTON – More people will soon be eligible for monkeypox vaccines, as 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.

On Tuesday, the Biden administration directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to distribute nearly 300,000 doses in the next few weeks, and more than a million by the end of the year. The vaccine won’t be available to everyone, and the DHHS said it is prioritizing areas with the highest numbers of cases and those most at-risk for the illness.

So far, the Washington State Department of Health has not released a timeline or strategy for any local vaccination efforts.

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.

There have been just a half-dozen confirmed cases this year in Washington, including the first confirmed in King County in late May. 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.