Limited monkeypox vaccines now available

Wyoming is now the only state in the nation to still be monkeypox-free, according to data from the Centers of Disease Control. Vaccines are now being made available to residents of this state – but only if you are considered to be at a high risk of contracting it.

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) announced last week that vaccines are being made available on a “limited, targeted basis”.

“We’re recommending vaccination for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and also for people who may be more likely to get monkeypox based on the current outbreak and how it has been spreading,” says Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer.

“While anyone can get monkeypox, vaccine eligibility is limited at this point to those people who are at highest risk due to limited supplies.”

Those who are eligible include men who have sex with men and who have had multiple or anonymous partners in the last year, as well as their partners; transgender and nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have had sex with multiple or anonymous partners who are male or male-assigned at birth within the past year; and sex workers.

Vaccinations begin this week and can be accessed via the public health office in each area. They are being provided at no charge through the federal government to the state, but the WDH says a small administration fee may be charged.

At this time, the total number of cases of monkeypox in the United States is just under 9500. Most have occurred in more populated states, such as Florida and Texas.

In states to the north of Wyoming, case counts are very low; two each in North and South Dakota, for example, one in Montana and eight in Idaho. To the south, Colorado has the most documented cases at 78, with Utah at 56 and Nebraska at 14.

According to the CDC, monkeypox infection causes a rash that may be located near the genitals and also on other parts of the body. It initially looks like pimples or blisters and will go through several stages.

Additional symptoms can include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, aches, headache and respiratory symptoms.

Symptoms begin within three weeks of exposure and monkeypox can be spread from the time symptoms appear until the rash has healed and all scabs have fallen off, which is a period estimated between two and four weeks.

“Monkeypox can spread to anyone through close, personal contact,” says state health officer Dr. Alexia Harrist. “Fortunately, it does not spread nearly as easily as do familiar viruses such as influenza or COVID-19.”

Monkeypox is mostly spread through close, personal contact with an infected person, either directly with the rash, scabs or bodily fluids of that person or by touching objects, fabrics and surfaces they have used. Respiratory secretions can also spread the illness.

It is rarely fatal but, says Harrist, can be unpleasant and painful and can cause serious illness.