Mecklenburg County expands monkeypox vaccine eligibility. Here’s who can get it

Mecklenburg County is offering free doses of the monkeypox vaccine from the federal government, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services announced.

The county recently expanded eligibility for the vaccine, but due to a limited supply, it is only being offered to individuals who are at high risk of contracting monkeypox, including:

• People who have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox

• Men who have sex with men, or transgender people who have had multiple anonymous sex partners, been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection or received pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in the last 90 days

• Certain health care workers and public health response team members designated by public health authorities

“This is a good first step, but more vaccine is needed,” Dr. Zack Moore, a state epidemiologist, said in a news release. “We are working with local health departments and other partners to ensure equitable access to those at risk as more doses become available over the coming months.”

The vaccine will also be available in through local health departments in Buncombe, Durham, Forsyth, New Hanover, Pitt and Wake counties.

Monkeypox can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, including kissing, cuddling or sex, according to NCDHHS. Three cases have been reported so far in North Carolina, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC says monkeypox symptoms include:

• Fever

• Headache

• Muscle aches and backache

• Swollen lymph nodes

• Chills

• Exhaustion

• A rash that can look like pimple or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, or on the hands, feet, chest or genitals

Individuals who are eligible can call the Mecklenburg County Health Department at 980-314-9400 to make an appointment to receive the vaccine, or join the county’s Monkeypox Vaccination Waitlist to receive notifications about appointment availability.

This story was originally published July 8, 2022 at 10:59 AM.

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.