PO Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
Judith M. PersichilliCommissioner
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Governor Murphy and New Jersey Health Commissioner Outline Expanded Monkeypox Vaccine Eligibility, Availability
TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Commissioner Judith Persichilli today announced the extended eligibility for the monkeypox vaccine and the state’s distribution plan for the 2,700 doses available. The vaccine was previously available to residents with known exposure to a case of monkeypox. This may interest you : 988: Transforming the American Behavioral Health Security Network | AHA News. Going forward, the JYNNEOS vaccine will also be available to New Jersey residents who are at high risk of having been exposed to the virus in the past 14 days. There are currently 45 probable and confirmed cases of the virus in New Jersey.
“As monkeypox cases continue to rise and our state receives additional doses from the federal government, we are taking these critical steps to increase vaccine availability to protect the health of residents,” Gov. Murphy said. “As my administration works to raise awareness about monkeypox, we encourage our healthcare and community partners to help spread the word about symptoms, risks and the availability of tests and vaccines. We will continue to prioritize the health of our communities and take action to support and reach residents at highest risk from this virus.”
“New Jersey was being administered a very limited number of doses at this time, and the Department continues to urge the CDC for the timely delivery of additional necessary doses to meet the needs of our vulnerable populations,” Health Commissioner Persichilli said. “At the same time, residents should be aware of the signs and symptoms of orthopoxvirus and take precautions to prevent its spread.”
For residents with known exposure to a person with monkeypox, the two-dose post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) regimen is still available through your local health department. People with known exposure within the past 14 days should contact their doctor or local health department for testing and vaccine suitability. Local health departments will continue to conduct contact tracing and offer the vaccine to anyone identified as a close contact.
For residents with no confirmed exposure who believe they may have been exposed to monkeypox in the past 14 days or are at high risk of exposure to monkeypox, the vaccine is now available through three community partners by appointment only.
New Jersey is expecting additional doses from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and as the state receives additional supplies, the department will continue to expand access to the vaccine.
In addition to people who are known to have been exposed to someone with monkeypox, and in accordance with CDC guidelines, the vaccine is now available for:
People with a medical condition that may increase their risk of serious illness when infected with the monkeypox virus, such as A disease that suppresses the immune system or a history of atopic dermatitis or eczema should be treated as a high priority for vaccination if they are at risk of exposure as listed above.
For these residents, information on vaccination appointments as part of the expanded PEP program is available through the three community partners:
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus – part of the orthopoxvirus family – that can affect anyone. The virus can cause flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that often starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. Monkeypox does not easily spread to humans without close contact. Although many of the current cases have been found in people who self-identify as men who have sex with men, monkeypox can be transmitted to any other person through direct contact with any infected person. It can also be spread by touching clothing, bedding, towels, or surfaces that have been exposed to someone with the virus.
People who think they have been exposed to monkeypox, or who have symptoms of monkeypox, should see a doctor right away.
According to the CDC, there are several steps that can be taken to prevent monkeypox:
For more information on monkeypox, go to: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/monkeypox.shtml or https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html. A directory of local health departments in New Jersey can be found at: www.nj.gov/health/lh/documents/LocalHealthDirectory.pdf.
