Tens of thousands of monkeypox vaccines rushed to clinics

The vaccination strategy, which officials characterized as part of a broader push for more testing and public awareness of monkeypox, will focus on distributing doses to states with the highest number of confirmed cases of the disease, which is spread by close contact that can lead to fever, aches and a visible rash. Gay and bisexual men have disproportionately contracted the virus and remain especially vulnerable to infection, fueled by celebrations during Pride Month, public health experts warn…

“Now, we are recommending that vaccines be provided to both people with known monkeypox exposures who are contacted by public health, and to those people who have been recently exposed to monkeypox but may not be identified through case investigation and contact tracing,” said Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She added that people at-risk include those with close physical contact to a person diagnosed with monkeypox, as well as men who have sex with men who have had multiple sex partners in a “venue” with monkeypox spread.

She said people should be vaccinated within two weeks of a possible exposure, “and the sooner you can get vaccinated after the exposure, the better.”