Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency as monkey pox cases continue to rise rapidly in New York.
The outbreak is concentrated in New York City, reaching nearly 1,400 cases statewide on Friday, according to the governor. disaster statement.
The statement empowers government agencies to help places respond to the outbreak. The governor said on Twitter that he would allow the state “to respond fasteruntil the outbreak.
Earlier in the week, officials announced that the state would receive an additional 110,000 doses of the monkeypox vaccine from the federal government.
They are part of a batch of 800,000 doses that the federal government plans to distribute. About 10 percent, or 80,000 of those doses, go to New York City; 30,000 will go to the New York State Health Department. the doses is delivered in the next four to six weeks, Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement.
What you need to know about the Monkeypox virus?
What is monkey pox? Monkeypox is a virus similar to smallpox, but the symptoms are less severe. It was discovered in 1958, after outbreaks occurred in monkeys kept for research. The virus was mainly found in parts of Central and West Africa, but in recent weeks it has spread to dozens of countries and infected tens of thousands of people, mostly men who have sex with men. on July 23, The World Health Organization has declared monkey pox a global health emergency.
More than 1,100 people in New York City had tested positive for monkeypox virus at the end of July – almost all of them grown men.
Here’s what you need to know about getting a monkeypox vaccine in New York City.
How do people get monkey pox?
In the current epidemic, monkeypox has spread mainly through close physical contact with an infected person. In New York, the virus is mainly spread among men who have sex with men. It causes rashes and pustules and the primary mode of transmission is through direct physical contact with sores.
It can also spread through a patient’s contaminated objects, such as sheets and clothesand via respiratory droplets. Researchers have found the virus in bodily fluids such as saliva, urine and semen, but there is still debate about whether it is transmitted sexually or just through skin-to-skin contact.
Who Qualifies for a Vaccine in New York City?
Adult men who have sex with men and who have had multiple sexual partners in the past 14 days are eligible for a vaccine in New York City. Close contacts of infected persons are also eligible.
Within the group of eligible people, the health department especially encourages people who have partners who show symptoms of monkey pox to get vaccinated. The department also encourages eligible people who have met their partners through social media platforms such as Grindr or at large gatherings to get vaccinated.
Eligible people who have a condition that weakens the immune system, such as HIV, or who have a history of dermatitis or eczema are also strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.
People who have had monkey pox are not eligible for vaccination.
How can I get a vaccine in New York City?
The health department has a website where people can make an appointment. All appointments have been filled since late July, but people are encouraged to check the website for any openings caused by cancellations.
The Ministry of Health has said it will directly inform people who have close contact with infected people how to make an appointment.
How many doses are available?
The state expects 110,000 additional doses in the coming weeks.
Half Juli, gov. Hochul announced that the state and city had already received more than 28,000 doses, with 32,785 doses still on the way from the federal government.
“We will continue to work closely with the Biden administration to ensure New York gets its fair share of monkeypox vaccines,” Governor Hochul said.
What kind of problems have there been with the rollout of the vaccine?
New York City started the rollout of the vaccine at the end of June. The city didn’t publicly announce the availability of the preferred monkeypox vaccine until 30 minutes before the appointments were available. News of its availability spread on social media and through word of mouth.
Hundreds of people, mostly white men, stood outside the Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic to receive their recordings. Some of those men were turned down and encouraged to book appointments online because there weren’t enough shots. People have also encountered problems on the website for scheduling appointments.