600 in Wisconsin receive monkeypox vaccination, says health department – Green Bay Press Gazette

New monkeypox vaccine plan may stretch nation's limited supply

The U.S. will use smaller doses of the monkeypox vaccine in order to stretch its supply.

Scott L. Hall, USA TODAY

About 600 doses of a monkeypox vaccine have been administered to Wisconsinites as of Tuesday, the state Department of Health Services said in a press conference Wednesday.

About 200 doses were given at the start of this week and another 300 over last week.

Health officials have confirmed 32 cases of monkeypox in the state as of Tuesday, according to DHS.

So far, the federal government has allocated 5,986 vaccine doses to Wisconsin and 3,286 have arrived in the state so far. The state health agencywill be able to order additional doses on Aug. 15.

Each vial of the vaccine can now be used to vaccinate up to five people from a single dose, following an announcement from the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday.

The Jynneosmonkeypox vaccine is now available for adults as anintradermal injection, which penetrates only the top layerof skin. Previously, the vaccine was given only as a subcutaneous shot, which is a deeper shot that is delivered to the fat layer under the skin.

RELATED: Monkeypox has spread to Wisconsin. Here's what you need to know about the disease and how to avoid it.

RELATED: Demand for monkeypox vaccine outstrips limited supply of doses available in Wisconsin

Authorization of the alternate method of delivery of the shot stretchessupply of the vaccine fivefold because it uses less of the dose.

"Given the studies that we have, both vaccines the high-dose or low-dose seem to have the same beneficial effect on the immune system," said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer for the state Department of Health Services.

Following the FDA's authorization, DHS is working with vaccinators to provide them with the equipment and training to deliver the vaccines intradermally to extend the state's supply.

There are five monkeypox vaccine hubs forthe state: Medical College of Wisconsin, SSM Health, Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire,the state agency's headquarters in Madison and Prevea Health.

As of this week, 40 clinical and public health siteshave placed orders for the monkeypox vaccine, Westergaard said, but the health departmenthopes to open more vaccination sites as the state gets more doses of the vaccine.

Monkeypoxspreads by closecontact with an infected person's fluids and lesions for a period of time, respiratory droplets from an infected personor by touching items contaminated with those fluids.

"Anyone with skin could be infected by this," Westergaard said.

Doses of theJynneos monkeypox vaccine are available in Wisconsin for prioritized groups:those who have had sexual relations in the last two weeks with someone diagnosed with monkeypox, people who have attended an event or venue with known monkeypox exposure and, notably, gay and bisexual men, trans men and women, gender nonconforming peopleand any man who has had sex with menin the last 14 days.

To reduce spread:

Contact Benita Mathew atbmathew@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @benita_mathew.

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600 in Wisconsin receive monkeypox vaccination, says health department - Green Bay Press Gazette