As Delaware expands monkeypox vaccine access, here's who can get the shots and where
As Delaware recorded 33 cases of monkeypox as of Monday, the state announced that it is expanding vaccine eligibility for people who are at higher risk of exposure and providing more opportunities for people to get vaccinated.
The state Division of Public Health reported that the current monkeypox cases included 22 people in New Castle County, two in Kent and nine in Sussex.
So far, 997 people have received at least one dose of the monkeypox vaccine, according to DPH's new website created to track the number of monkeypox cases and provide further public health information.
Still, health officials remind Delawareans that the vaccine is not effective until two weeks after the second dose. The monkeypox vaccine is given 28 days apart, and hundreds of people are expected to receive their second dose at the end of this month after getting their first shot at community clinics in late August.
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The state had also received 1,188 vials of the vaccine, according to this data.
At an August vaccine clinic, DPH administrator Don Post said they noticed that one vial produced an average of four doses after the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization allowing states to administer a smaller dose of the vaccine under the skin instead of into the muscle.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not encouraging the vaccine for the broader public or for everyone who is sexually active, DPH has expanded eligibility for people who are at higher risk for infection.
This expanded access now includes people treated for a sexually transmitted infection in the last six months, those who are already considered to be at higher risk for monkeypox who are also experiencing homelessness or are incarcerated, and individuals traveling to an area with community spread of monkeypox. (The CDC updates a monkeypox tracker for cases in every state.)
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Who can get the monkeypox vaccine?
Beyond those additional groups of people who can now get the monkeypox vaccine, the following individuals are also eligible, according to DPH:
Those confirmed to have been exposed to someone with the virus
People known, or presumed, to be exposed to someone with monkeypox in the last 14 days
Those living with HIV or who are receiving HIV PrEP
Immunocompromised persons (including those with cancer, solid organ or stem cell transplants, those taking immunosuppressive therapy and individuals with autoimmune diseases)
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and have had multiple (more than one) or any anonymous sexual partners
Transgender women or nonbinary people assigned male at birth who have sex with men
Sex workers (of any sexual orientation and gender)
Staff (of any sexual orientation and gender) at establishments where sexual activity occurs, including bathhouses, saunas or sex clubs
Where to get the monkeypox vaccine
On Saturday, people can get their monkeypox vaccine for free at the AIDS Walk events in New Castle and Sussex counties. The walk in Wilmington will be at Brandywine State Park from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach from 9 a.m. to noon. People don't need to be registered for the AIDS Walk to receive a vaccine.
DPH announced this latest collaboration with Beebe Healthcare, AIDS Delaware and the Delaware HIV Consortium on Monday.
For the Brandywine State Park clinic, people can register by calling the DPH hotline at 866-408-1899. That hotline is open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If attending the Rehoboth clinic, people do not need to preregister. They should bring an ID and insurance card. While the vaccine is free, there may be a small administration fee (less than $30), which is typically covered by insurance, but may be billable to a patient without insurance coverage, according to DPH.
Here's where else people can sign up for vaccines:
Newark Urgent Care: Visit NewarkUrgentCare.org to view eligibility requirements and schedule an appointment. Vaccine clinics are on Thursdays, and there is no cost for the vaccine.
Beebe Healthcare: Schedule an appointment at beebehealthcare.org/online-scheduling. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
DPH clinics: Call the MPX hotline at 866-408-1899 for a screening evaluation. Walk-ins at DPH clinics will not be accepted. Because DPH clinics will continue to prioritize those with confirmed or potential exposure to someone with monkeypox, these appointment may be scheduled a few days out.
How to prevent infection
Delaware public health officials have the following recommendations to avoid infection:
Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have rashes that could be related to monkeypox.
Individuals who are sexually active can minimize their risk of exposure by limiting the number of partners they have and talking to their partner about their recent history and behaviors.
Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
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What are the signs and symptoms?
Symptoms usually start within three weeks of exposure to the virus.
Most people who contract MPX will develop a rash, and some will develop flu-like symptoms beforehand. The flu-like symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, sore throat, cough, swollen lymph nodes, chills or exhaustion.
If someone has flu-like symptoms, they will usually develop a rash one to four days later.
If you suspect you are experiencing any symptoms associated with MPX, DPH advises people to immediately:
Contact their health care provider and mention their concerns.
Self-isolate until all lesions have resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.
Avoid being intimate with others.
Make a list of their close and intimate contacts in the last 21 days.
For more information, visit de.gov/monkeypox.
Emily Lytle covers Sussex County from the inland towns to the beaches, with a focus on health-related issues. Got a story she should tell? Contact her at elytle@delmarvanow.com or 302-332-0370. Follow her on Twitter at @emily3lytle.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Monkeypox in Delaware: State expands vaccine eligibility, new clinics
