NY lawmakers call on CDC to prioritize more monkeypox vaccines to the state

New York makes up about one-third of the nation's 1,500 infections but has only received only 15% of the country's vaccine supply.

News 12 Staff

Jul 15, 2022, 12:24 AM

Updated 812 days ago

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Almost 50 state lawmakers co-signed a letter to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to call on the federal government to provide New York with more monkeypox vaccines and antivirals.
New York makes up about one-third of the nation's 1,500 infections but has only received only 15% of the country's vaccine supply.
The Food and Drug Administration is making nearly 800,000 more doses of the monkeypox vaccine ready for distribution by the end of the month. Lawmakers say they want to make sure they're distributed with a priority to New York, according to the state's need.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Harish Moorjani of Phelps Hospital Northwell Health isn't too concerned, despite the rise in cases and lack of universally available treatments.
"The risk of transmission is very, very low. It takes prolonged close contact for transmission to occur," Moorjani says.
According to state data, there are 12 cases in Westchester County, the most in the state outside of New York City.