Black men are less likely to get the monkeypox vaccine

MONDAY, August 29, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Although there is now enough monkeypox vaccine, Americans who need it most may not get it, according to a new report.

Only 10% of Jynneos vaccine doses have been given to black people, even though they make up a third of cases in the United States, new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

The latest statistics could only be collected from 17 states and two cities, but similar discrepancies have already been reported by a few states and cities. So far, monkeypox outbreaks have greatly affected gay and bisexual men.

The United States has the highest number of infections of any country – more than 17,000. About 98% of cases in the United States are men and about 93% are men who report recent sexual contact with other men. No one in the United States has died from the disease, but deaths have been reported in other countries.

Experts say there could be several explanations for this worrying trend. It could be how and where the footage is presented and published. Also, some black men do not trust doctors and government public health efforts, or they may be less likely to identify themselves as more likely to contract the virus.

Dr. Ivins Laborde, director of global health education at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, said a reluctance to vaccines was also seen in black communities when COVID-19 vaccines were introduced. News agency. “If we’re not careful, the same thing will happen here” with monkeypox, he said.

Caitlin Rivers, an expert at Johns Hopkins University on the government’s response to epidemics, said black men are making more monkeypox cases. AP. “This is an unresolved problem,” she said.

The Biden administration said Friday it has shipped enough monkeypox vaccine to give the first two doses to those at higher risk. That’s nearly 2 million gay or bisexual men. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can’t break that down by race, the AP He pointed out.

Adequate second doses are expected by the end of September. As a temporary solution, health officials have already recommended lowering doses to expand vaccine supplies. According to the Biden administration, only 14 of the 67 vaccines have used enough to order more of the federal stockpile.

Some experts say black men need more access to the vaccine.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Wallensky said at a White House news conference Friday that her agency has taken steps to increase vaccine access in black communities. Vaccines and educational materials will be available at upcoming Black Pride events in Atlanta and New Orlean’s Southern Decadence, AP mentioned.

“We’ve seen that we’re starting to roll out these pilot projects that they’re working,” she said.

Even today:

• About 50% of those who get vaccinated are white and about 25% are Hispanic.
• About 10% were black and 10% were Asian.
• About 94% of men and 6% of women.
• More than half of the beneficiaries were between 25 and 39 years old.

In related news, a CDC survey released Friday showed that about half of gay and bisexual men reduce sexual activity to avoid getting monkeypox.

more information

Visit the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn more about monkeypox.

source: News agency