What is monkeypox? Here’s how to get vaccine in Indiana – IndyStar

White House declares monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency

As monkeypox cases rise across the states, the Biden administration says they are taking additional steps to stop the spread of the virus.

Ariana Triggs, USA TODAY

Corrections and clarifications: A previous version of this story mischaracterized the number of monkeypox vaccine doses Indiana has been allocated.

As the number of monkeypox cases grows, so does the public health threat.

Monkeypox is a viral disease in the same family as smallpox, though monkeypox is generally milder than smallpox and rarely fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

President Joe Biden's administration declared monkeypox a national public health emergency last Thursday.

"I remain committed to our monkeypox response: ramping-up vaccine distribution, expanding testing, and educating at-risk communities," the president said in a tweet. "That's why today's public health emergency declaration on the virus is critical to confronting this outbreak with the urgency it warrants."

Addressing myths about monkeypox:A look at symptoms, treatment and other common questions

As of Monday, there were 77 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Indiana and nearly 9,000 in the United States, according to the CDC.

Like many other states, Indiana has seen an increase in monkeypox cases over the past month,State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said in a July 29 news release. Monkeypox does not easily spread through brief casual contact, but its important to remember that anyone can be affected if they are a close contact of a positive case. Hoosiers who believe they may have been exposed or who develop symptoms consistent with monkeypox are urged to contact a healthcare provider.

Here's what to know about the virus and the vaccine.

Symptoms of monkeypox usually begin within three weeks after exposure, according to the CDC.

Symptoms can include fever, headache, chills, muscle and back aches, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion and respiratory symptoms. Most people with monkeypox will also develop a rash, which can resemble blisters or pimples, that can spread to various parts of the body. The illness generally lasts between two and four weeks, and the person is no longer contagious once a fresh layer of skin develops over the scabs.

Direct skin-to-skin contact with the monkeypox rash, sores or scabs of a currently infected person is believed to be the most common way the virus is spreading, according to an information sheet from the CDC.

However, contact with surfaces or objects that have come into contact with the monkeypox scabs, in addition to contact with respiratory secretions through kissing or other close contact, is also a method of transmission. Pregnant people can spread the disease to their fetus.

Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease. It is transmitted via skin-to-skin contact, which can occur during sex, but is not specific to sexual activity.

The JYNNEOS vaccine, also known as Imvamune or Imvanex, protects against smallpox and monkeypox infection in adults 18 and older. It's a two-dose vaccine, with the second shot administered at least four weeks after the first.

Past data from Africa suggests that the smallpox vaccine is at least 85% effective at preventing people from being infected with monkeypox, according to the CDC.

Vaccination before exposure is aimed at preventing infection, but experts believe that vaccination soon after exposure may help prevent the disease or at least severe illness.

Experts recommend vaccination as soon as possible after being exposed, and CDC recommends vaccination within four days after exposure to prevent disease. Vaccines given between four and 14 days after exposure could prevent severe illness, but not necessarily infection.

It's a misconception that monkeypox will only affect people living with HIV or men who have sex with men, Alan Witchey, CEO and president of the Damien Center, said, although there is a higher rate of infection among these groups, in part because those living with HIV are immunocompromised and are more susceptible to infection.

People living with HIV who regularly take antiretroviraldrugs can become virally suppressed, meaning that the viral load is low enough that it prevents illness and cannot be transmitted to other people.

More:Monkeypox is not a gay disease. But LGBTQ leaders say they need more help for gay men and everyone else

Overall, 65% of people living with HIV are virally suppressed, Witchey said. However, that leaves many others who have not reached viral suppression. So those people, because of their compromised immune systems, are more susceptible to contracting monkeypox.

"There are definitely people who are not gay men or don't identify as gay or bi men that are getting infected with monkeypox," Witchey said. "It does not discriminate by your sexual identity or sexual orientation. It actually is just as contagious amongst anyone."

According to the IDOH website, "Indiana has only been allocated a small amount meant to be used primarily to treat people who have been a close contact of a case to prevent severe disease."

Indiana has so far been allocated nearly 12,000 doses of the vaccine, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Vaccines are still in limited supply, Megan Wade-Taxter, spokesperson for IDOH, told IndyStar, and supply is being reserved for those who have been exposed or people who are more likely to get monkeypox.

Witchey said the Damien Center, which was given over 300 doses to distribute in late July, is currently putting highest priority on men living with HIV who have sex with men who are not virally suppressed or have low CD4 counts.

Fact check:Altered image shows fabricated magazine headline about monkeypox stigma

The second highest-priority group is men living with HIV who have sex with men who are virally suppressed and then the third and broadest category is men who have sex with men generally.

To request more information about the monkeypox vaccine and be notified when availability widens, register at this link: bit.ly/3QpuAkj The state health department will notify you via text when vaccines and clinics in your area become available.

For updates on vaccine clinics, visit the health department's website: bit.ly/3QfPyS.

Contact IndyStar trending reporter Claire Rafford at crafford@gannett.com or on Twitter@clairerafford.

Read more:

What is monkeypox? Here's how to get vaccine in Indiana - IndyStar