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In this phase of vaccine distribution, NYSDOH has allocated 2,000 of its doses to New York City, given the high number of cases concentrated in the area.
By Forum Staff
Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the distribution of the JYNNEOS vaccine in New York, following an additional allocation of 8,822 doses to New York State from the federal government. New York City will receive its own allocation of 23,963 doses directly from the federal government.
“New York continues to face a disproportionate number of monkeypox cases,” Hochul said. “I want to thank President Biden, Dr. Jha and other Administration officials for their partnership to secure additional vaccines for our state. While the national supply remains limited, we will continue our efforts to confront this outbreak with the urgency needed to ensure that New York receives its fair share of vaccines and protect our most vulnerable communities.”
In this phase of vaccine distribution (“2B”), NYSDOH has allocated 2,000 of its doses to New York City, given the high number of cases concentrated in the area. The rest of the State’s allocation will be distributed to counties based on the number of monkeypox cases in their locality, proximity to New York City, and ability to reach vaccine-eligible New Yorkers. All doses in this allocation are recommended to be administered as a first dose of the two-dose vaccine series. While vaccine supply remains limited, more vaccine is expected in the coming weeks and months to ensure New Yorkers get both doses needed to be considered fully vaccinated.
The State Department of Health has indicated that it is committed to an equitable distribution of vaccine, and as it has since Phase 1, eligibility remains focused on individuals with known or likely exposure in areas with the highest number of cases. In accordance with CDC guidance advising Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for the current Monkeypox outbreak, those already exposed or likely to have been exposed are prioritized in the State allocation by county.
Eligibility includes the following New Yorkers:
- Individuals with recent exposure to monkeypox within the past 14 days.
- Those at high risk of a recent exposure to monkeypox, including members of the gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming community and other communities of men who have sex with men and who have engaged in intimate or skin-to-skin contact with others in the past 14 days areas where monkeypox is spreading.
- Individuals who have had skin-to-skin contact with someone in a social network experiencing monkeypox activity, including men who have sex with men who meet partners through an online website, digital application (“app”), or social event, such as a bar or party.
Of the 8,822 doses allocated to New York State from the federal government, 1,000 will be distributed to Nassau County, 1,800 to Suffolk County, 2,600 to Westchester County, 600 to Erie County, 600 to Monroe County, and 300 to Saratoga County – though 100 of Saratoga County’s 300 doses will be taken from doses previously reserved by NYSDOH (from Phase “2A”). Albany County, which just announced its first case, will receive 40 doses and 2,000 doses will be allocated to New York City.
Anyone can get monkeypox, which is primarily spread through close, physical contact between people. Based on the current outbreak, certain populations are being affected more than others, including men who have sex with men. Information from previous outbreaks around the world indicate that elderly New Yorkers, those with weakened immune systems, pregnant people, and children under 8 years of age may be at heightened risk for severe outcomes.
