SACRAMENTO – (INT) - California health officials are asking the Centers for Disease Control for at least 800,000 additional doses of vaccine to slow the spread of monkeypox.

As of July 19th, there are 356 probable and confirmed cases of monkeypox in the state.

“Unlike the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when we did not have a vaccine to mitigate the spread, we do have an approved vaccine that should be effective against monkeypox,” said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly.

The state has distributed a limited vaccine supply to local public health departments and mobile vaccine clinics.

Story Date: August 1, 2022