IDPH announces prioritization of monkeypox vaccines for those at high risk

The Illinois Department of Public Health has announced that, due to limited supplies of the vaccine for monkeypox virus, the state is prioritizing the first dose of the vaccine for those eligible. The change is intended to ensure that as many individuals are vaccinated as soon as possible with a first shot in order to reduce the spread of the virus. IDPH notified healthcare providers of this prioritization via a notice sent the morning of July 28.

With the demand for the vaccine outstripping supplies, IDPH is advising local public health officials that, unless people are in certain elevated risk categories, they should receive only an initial dose of the MPV vaccine until more supplies become available.

Illinois is currently reporting 401 cases of confirmed or probable MPV in the state, with 85 percent of them in the city of Chicago. The state has received 7,371 doses of the Jynneos vaccine and the city of Chicago has received 18,707 doses. The state has designated 4,631 doses of its inventory to the city of Chicago.

In many instances, this directive will mean that individuals will not get a second dose at 28 days after their first dose. The policy is consistent with the distribution strategy taken in other US jurisdictions, including the City of Chicago, United Kingdom and Canada. Studies have show that the vaccine offers protection for at least several months after the first dose. IDPH recommends that second doses should be scheduled as soon as sufficient vaccine becomes available.

MPV is a disease that does not spread easily between people without close contact and has primarily affected men who have sex with men. However, anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, can spread monkeypox through contact with bodily fluids, monkeypox sores or shared items (such as clothing and bedding) that have been contaminated with fluids or sores of a person with monkeypox. The virus can also spread between people through respiratory droplets in a close setting, such as the same household or a healthcare setting. Common household disinfectants can kill the monkeypox virus.

There are many causes of rash illness. However, if someone has a rash illness that they are concerned about, they should talk with or see a health care provider about their symptoms. They should not have close contact with other individuals until they have seen a health provider and arranged to be tested. In general, people should avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that might be monkeypox.

For more information about IDPH’s response to MPV, visit https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/monkeypox.html

For more information about the national response, visit https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/outbreak/us-outbreaks.html