Monkeypox Vaccine Should Be Given to Gay Community First, Experts Say
newsweek.commonkeypox virus should be prioritized for men who have sex with men, according to experts.Monkeypox, a virus originally passed to humans from animals, now has over 15,000 confirmed cases worldwide across 71 countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Earlier cases have been associated with gay and bisexual men—with many U.S. cases being linked to a single event. While anyone of any sexuality can contract the disease, as it is transmitted via skin-to-skin or skin-to-clothing contact, the initial influx of cases in the LGBTQ+ community has meant that men who have sex with men are currently most at risk of the virus.Vaccines for monkeypox have recently been made available in the U.S.
As of July 19, over 190,000 doses of the JYNNEOS smallpox and monkeypox vaccine had been distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile to aid in local vaccination efforts nationwide, according to the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.There aren't enough doses to vaccinate everyone, meaning that those most at risk need to be prioritized.
