To continue slowing the spread of monkeypox, state health officials have expanded eligibility for the vaccine. Beginning Wednesday, anyone who has sex with men who have sex with men can get the two-dose vaccine, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. This includes women who have sex with bisexual men. As of Tuesday, there were 377 reported cases of monkeypox in the state.
Nearly all of them were in men and just over two-thirds of them were among Black or African American, according to the state health department’s website. More than 11,400 monkeypox vaccines had been administered in the state as of Aug. 31. More vaccine doses are expected to be coming soon, according to a news release.
Other eligible people for the vaccine include: Anyone who has had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox in the last two weeks People who have had sexual contact with gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men or transgender people in the last 90 days Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men or transgender people who are sexually active People living with HIV or taking medication to prevent HIV, also known as PreP People who were diagnosed with syphilis in the past 90 days