Monkeypox vaccine eligibility to include women, Mecklenburg County officials say
Eligibility for the monkeypox vaccine will be expanded to include women who have had sexual contact with high-risk individuals, Mecklenburg County health officials announced Tuesday.
Dr. Raynard Washington, Mecklenburg County Public health director said at press conference that starting Wednesday, the eligibility requirements for the vaccine will be expanded to include women who in the last 90 days have engaged in sexual contact with gay or bisexual men.
In addition to women, monkeypox vaccines are available to gay, bisexual, or transgender people who have been diagnosed with an STI, have multiple sexual partners or are taking medication to prevent HIV.
It is also available to anyone who has had close contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox in the last two weeks.
According to Washington, the expansion was initiated in an effort to curb the spread of the virus within Mecklenburg County.
“This is an effort by both the state and local health departments to be able to ensure that we are reaching those at greatest risk and making sure that we’re doing everything possible to contain the spread of monkeypox in our community.”
While Mecklenburg County public health officials have yet to identify monkeypox infections in women, two Wake County women were diagnosed with the virus in late August, The News & Observer reported.
Of the 346 confirmed monkeypox cases in North Carolina, 142 of them have been located within Mecklenburg County, most recent data shows.
The health department indicated Tuesday that the overall number of hospitalized monkeypox patients has risen to seven.
The health department also noted that it has not yet reported any monkeypox cases among Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students, said Joy Smith, Mecklenburg County communicable disease director.
Mecklenburg county receives first shipment of updated COVID booster doses
A shipment of the new omicron booster arrived in Mecklenburg County on Tuesday, according to county officials.
“We did receive a shipment of (the updated boosters) at the health department today and expect to be available to residents as early as tomorrow,” Washington said during the Tuesday press briefing.
Washington urged everyone who is eligible to receive the booster to get it as soon as it becomes available at partner locations, such as StarMed.
Only those who 12 years or older and who have received the first series of COVID-19 vaccine (two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson) are eligible to receive the updated booster.
“Those booster doses are recommended for anyone who has received the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of prior booster status,” said Washington. “There are some conditions, for example, if you’ve had a booster or an additional dose in the last two months, it’s recommended that you wait until you get to the two-month mark.”
Washington also recommended that anyone who has recently recovered from a COVID-19 infection should wait a few weeks before seeking a bivalent omicron booster shot.
Shipments of the new booster will arrive in the county and be distributed to health departments, clinics, and vaccine sites like Walgreens and CVS in increments, though new shipments will arrive in weeks to replenish supply.
Anyone with questions about the new omicron booster or monkeypox vaccine eligibility should contact their primary care doctor or call the Mecklenburg County public health hotline at 980-314-9400.
This story was originally published September 7, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
