New York City, faced with an increase in cases of monkeypox and a strong demand for vaccines, announced on Wednesday that it had alerted federal authorities to the “urgency” to extend vaccination against this disease which affects the majority homosexual people.
The largest American city – between 8 and 9 million inhabitants -, considered a capital for the defense of LGBTQ + rights, officially recorded 336 “probable” cases of monkey pox on Wednesday, against 267 the day before and 223 on Monday, figures that do not fully reflect a “growing epidemic”, according to the New York Department of Health.
On Tuesday, the health services had to apologize after numerous hiccups on the vaccine reservations website, “overwhelmed by traffic”, when 1,250 appointment slots were available, sparking protests and frustration on social networks.
In this context, the city’s Democratic Mayor, Eric Adams, indicated that he had a telephone meeting with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) to “discuss the supply constraints New York City faces and the urgency to expand immunization to more people, in more neighborhoods, with more partners and providers.”
“We have also expressed our commitment to quickly address the current shortage with the necessary funds, commensurate with the health burden on New York, the epicenter of the monkeypox epidemic,” added Eric. Adams in a statement.
New York was due to receive 14,500 doses from the US government this week, adding to nearly 7,000 received since June 23.
The vaccination, which is carried out in two doses, is currently reserved as a priority “for homosexual, bisexual men, or other men who have sex with men, transgender or non-binary people”, recalled the health services. This is the population most at risk of being contaminated, in particular through contact or sexual relations.
Non-fatal, monkeypox disease causes rashes that may look like pimples or blisters and with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache and fatigue.