As America is just getting over the Covid pandemic, we may be witnessing some Deja Vu as the CDC has put out its first vaccine guidance related to the recent concern of the Monkey Flu (for some reason, some people don’t realize I am kidding - I mean monkeypox). Cases have been reported across the United States as well as Europe and just like the Covid pandemic, health care workers and others responding to the cases will be first in line.

The CDC’s leading experts on vaccines, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, issued the recommendation over the weekend. It will include lab workers, people in testing environments, and health care personnel treating those infected with monkeypox. The JYNNEOS vaccine is tailored to both smallpox and monkeypox. There are other smallpox drugs that are believed to be effective against the virus.

The United States has just recently reported its tenth case of the Virus/

“Certain laboratorians and health care personnel can be exposed to orthopoxviruses through occupational activities.”

ACIP wrote.

There is currently a stockpile of nearly 1,000 doses of the two-dose vaccine. America also has 100 Million doses of ACAM2000 which is another pox vaccine. Today, the CDC continues to report that they will plan to distribute the shots to those most at risk.

The majority of infections are being reported in gay and bisexual men and most are thought to be tied to international travel. Health officials have not reported any confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission of the virus in the United States but those in Europe are saying an outbreak could’ve occurred due to unsafe sex at two mass gatherings in Spain and Belgium.

Currently, throughout the world, more than 300 cases have been reported in over 24 countries. No deaths from monkeypox have been reported.