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| North Carolina is expanding eligibility rules for people to get the monkeypox vaccine as a response to the uptick in cases in the state. |
More people are eligible for the monkeypox vaccine in North Carolina.
The World Health Organization declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency with more than 19,000 cases reported worldwide. As of July 26, there were 38 reported monkeypox cases in the state, according to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. As of July 25, 18 cases were reported in Mecklenburg County.
So far, more than 60% of the state’s monkeypox cases are among African American men, with two-thirds reported in Mecklenburg County among Black men. Majority of the cases reported in the state are in men who have sex with men.
“It’s very concerning to see disparities emerging in our monkeypox cases,” said state epidemiologist Zack Moore M.D., MPH. “We are working with our partners to raise awareness of monkeypox in LBGTQ+ communities of color and to making sure vaccines and other resources are reaching this community so they can take steps to decrease their chances of getting monkeypox.”
NCDHHS received 4,548 doses from the federal government to vaccinate about 2,300 individuals with the recommended two-dose vaccination series.
There have been 533 doses administered across the state, with vaccines distributed to nine local health departments. NCDHHS is working with other health departments and clinics to make more monkeypox shots available across the state.
The state health department expanded eligibility for those at higher risk of the contagious disease.
• Anyone who had close contact in the past two weeks with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox, and
• Gay or bisexual men or transgender individuals who report any of the following in the last 90 days:
Having multiple sex partners or anonymous sex
Being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection
Receiving medications to prevent HIV infection (PrEP)
“While monkeypox can affect anyone through close skin to skin contact, our data show that currently almost all cases in North Carolina and across the country have been in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men,” said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “Everyone in our health system across the state should be working quickly to increase use of testing and vaccinating those most at risk so we can contain this outbreak.”
In July, NCDHHS had developed a plan to encourage people to “get checked, get tested, and get protected” from the virus.
“Health care providers are the key link in getting checked, getting tested and getting protected,” said Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson M.D., MPH, the state health director and NCDHHS chief medical officer. “We want to emphasize that testing is widely available, and anyone with symptoms should be tested.”
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