LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles (LA) County health officials said July 1 is aligning with federal guidelines on the distribution of monkeypox vaccines, offering the shots to people who have had confirmed contact with an existing case or who attended an event where there was a high risk of exposure.
According to the county, doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine are limited in supply, and only people who are specifically contacted by the county Department of Public Health will be eligible to receive it.
Nearly 800 doses have already been administered locally, as reported by the county.
“As vaccine supply increases, Public Health will align with the federal strategy of administering the monkeypox vaccine to others in high-risk groups,” according to the county.
As of this week, there were 30 known cases of monkeypox in LA county. Health officials last week confirmed local transmission of the virus, noting that some recently identified patients had no history of recent travel that might account for their infections, and some attended large events that may have spread the illness.
Health officials said the infection spreads through contact with bodily fluids, monkeypox sores, or shared items such as bedding or clothing that were contaminated with fluids. It can also be transmitted through saliva and sexual contact.
Most people who develop monkeypox only have a mild symptom that goes away within two to four weeks without treatment.
People with symptoms are urged to visit a medical provider, cover the rash area with clothing, wear a mask and avoid close or skin-to-skin contact with others.
