The proclamation, which went into effect immediately, will help boost local health officials’ response efforts to the outbreak, allowing for greater flexibility with hiring and contracting protocols and to distribute vaccines when more doses become available. includes helping.
According to a county webpage for monkeypox, the supply of the vaccine is currently “very limited.”
“While the vaccine is allocated at the federal level, and an announcement does not bring more vaccines to our region in the near term, the emergency declaration will help public health work with providers and community partners to help determine when large quantities are available. vaccine,” a King County news release said.
Vaccine supply has been a problem in other parts of the US amid high demand. This week, top officials in the Biden administration announced new steps to accelerate the country’s response to the spread of monkeypox, including boosting the supply of the vaccine with an additional 1.8 million doses of the Genoese shot.
And earlier this month, the US Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization allowing health care providers to change how the vaccine is administered, helping to increase supplies.
In King County, health officials say they have been responding to an outbreak of monkeypox since May 23, when the first case was identified.
Dennis Worsham, interim director of public health for Seattle and King County, said it is important for public health leaders to be able to “respond and reach the communities most affected, including ensuring equitable access to vaccines.” “
“Removing any procedural hurdles will help us be as effective as possible as we anticipate continued engagement for public health, healthcare providers and community partners, including the potential role of new COVID-19 boosters, flu shots and Including preventing more cases. of MPV in our community,” Worsham said in a statement.
The Biden administration, which has been criticized at times for its handling of the outbreak, has declared the outbreak an emergency in other cities and states, including New York City, San Francisco, California, after other cities and states declared monkeypox. declared a public health emergency. and Illinois.
The World Health Organization in July declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
CNN’s Betsy Klein and Jacqueline Howard contributed to this report.
(This story has not been edited by seemayo staff and is published from a rss feed)
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