27 of 2,000 monkeypox vaccine doses distributed in Conn.
Only 27 of the 2,000 doses of the monkeypox allocated to Connecticut have been administered to patients, according to the state.
As of Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has shipped 2,004 doses of the Jynneos vaccine to fight monkeypox, the agency says on its website.
Providers are asked to report weekly how many of those doses have been administered. As of Monday, Connecticut has administered 27, ”although that number is changing,” DPH spokesman Chris Boyle said in an email.
Connecticut, unlike New York City, has not begun wide vaccine clinics though those plans are underway.
“We are working on a plan to vaccinate a broader group of people with our allocated vaccine doses,” Boyle said. “At the current time, we are making plans to extend vaccination to persons who are at increased risk but have not had a known exposure.”
At present, in order to be vaccinated against monkeypox in Connecticut, a patient who feels they may have been exposed to monkeypox has to speak to their healthcare provider.
“The first step for a person who feels they have been exposed to monkeypox is to make an appointment with their health care provider regarding testing (if any symptoms) and possible post-exposure prophylaxis,” Boyle said.
Connecticut was not allocated any vaccine doses in the first phase of distribution, because the state had, until that point, not identified any confirmed cases of monkeypox. Since then, the state has logged 22 confirmed cases, out of 3,487 nationwide and 18,095 globally.
Though wider vaccine clinics have not yet been announced, Boyle said they are planning them.
“DPH is partnering with hospitals and community-based clinics to ensure close contacts can be referred rapidly and receive vaccine in a timely manner,” he said. “We are closely monitoring our case counts and close contacts to determine when we might be able to offer vaccine to a larger group of at-risk persons.”