While monkeypox has been declared a global emergency, cases remain low in Hawaii and health officials are working to get the vaccine out, state Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble said Friday.
“The monkeypox in this outbreak has not been as severe as some strains out of Africa. But we are seeing a lot of impact,” she said. “It’s painful, it’s itchy and it’s not pleasant to have. For anyone immune compromised it can be more severe.”
Health workers in the state are primarily focusing on getting the vaccine to at risk populations, such as the LGBTQ+ community, anyone who has come in contact with the disease, and anyone who is immune compromised, she during a livestreamed interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
“Monkeypox is primarily affecting the LGBTQ community here and we’re working to get the vaccine out,” Kemble said. “We want to get as many people as we can vaccinated this week and we have over 250 appointments scheduled. We’re monitoring our supply and working with the feds to get the supply we need.”
Jynneos, a two-dose vaccine administered 28 days apart, is the only vaccine FDA-approved to treat monkeypox.
As of last week, there were more than 4,600 reported monkeypox cases in the U.S, according to the CDC, and federal officials expect those numbers to rise. In Hawaii, as of last week, 11 people have tested positive for monkeypox.
More than 99% of reported cases in the U.S. are in men and the vast majority of those are among men who reported sexual contact with other men, though health officials have stressed that anyone can catch the virus.
Kemble noted that while monkeypox has been declared a global emergency, no one in the U.S. has died from monkeypox yet.
Monkeypox is spread mainly through close, intimate contact with bodily fluids, lesion material or large respiratory droplets from someone with monkeypox. The droplets generally cannot travel more than a few feet, so prolonged face-to-face contact is required for infection.
Infections typically begin within 21 days of exposure, starting with flu-like symptoms including fevers, headaches, muscle aches, chills, exhaustion and swollen lymph nodes before progressing to rashes and sores on the hands, feet, chest, face or genitals.
Treatments are available through the national stock pile, and Kemble advised anyone individuals affected to talk to their doctor and order treatment immediately.
“But right now we are focusing getting vaccines to those who have been affected or have been exposed to places where monkeypox is spreading,” she said. “If you’ve been exposed call to monkeypox please call our hotline to find out how to be vaccinated.”
The U.S. has ordered 5.5 million more vaccine doses for delivery by mid-2023 and has rights to the raw ingredients that could make 11.1 million more doses. U.S. officials said a massive vaccination campaign could still be avoided if communities and individuals take measures to avoid spread. .
To date, Hawaii has received 1,400 doses of the Jynneos vaccine from the Strategic National Stockpile and will continue to receive allocations as supply becomes available. Demand is expected to outpace Hawaii’s extremely limited supply.
Individuals eligible for the vaccine in Hawaii should call the Department of Health’s monkeypox hotline at (808) 586-4462.