U.S. CDC launches monkeypox vaccine equity program

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched the Monkeypox Vaccine Equity Pilot Program to support innovative, non-traditional ways to address disparities in monkeypox vaccination, said the agency on Thursday.

Starting from Thursday, local, state, and territorial health departments, as well as tribal governments and local non-governmental organizations, can partner together and begin submitting requests to access monkeypox vaccine through the program.

This new pilot program is intended to reach populations that may face barriers to monkeypox vaccination, which may include differences in language, location of vaccination sites, vaccine hesitancy, mistrust of government, lack of access to on-line scheduling technology, disability issues, immigration status, and stigma, said the CDC.

"We have a responsibility to address inequities that have been highlighted by this outbreak, and this program will help make a difference," said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.

Up to 50,000 doses of JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine have been allocated for the Monkeypox Vaccine Equity Pilot program, according to the CDC.

As of Wednesday, a total of 22,774 monkeypox cases had been confirmed in the United States, according to the latest CDC data.