Duke Health vaccinated nearly 300 people at a monkeypox vaccine clinic last week, with plans to hold more clinics depending on vaccine supply from federal and state government agencies.
The clinic, held at the Duke Covid Testing and Vaccine Center, was open to people 18 years or older who met NC Department of Health and Human Services and Duke Health’s eligibility criteria.
The clinics are open to anyone in the community who meets vaccine guidelines. There is no cost for the vaccine and Duke affiliation and insurance is not required. Dates and times for future clinics have not been determined yet.
“We anticipate that the [state health department’s] criteria will broaden as the supply of vaccine improves, but for now the goal is to [use] the vaccine for those people at greatest risk,” wrote John Vaughn, assistant vice president for student affairs and director of student health, in an email to The Chronicle.
Students who meet the state criteria for the monkeypox vaccine can contact Student Health or their local primary care provider who can place an order for the vaccine. Students can visit Clinic 1J in the Duke Clinic Building to be vaccinated, according to Vaughn.
Duke Health had to order more doses during the clinic, which ran from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and 299 individuals had been vaccinated by end of day, Vaughn wrote.
Jynneos, the preferred vaccine to protect against monkeypox, requires two doses and it takes 14 days after getting the second dose to achieve maximum protection, according to the CDC. Durham was one of the first local North Carolina health departments to receive doses of Jynneos.
Vaughn wrote that Duke Health schedules patients for their second dose 28 days after they receive their first dose.
As of Aug. 16, the state confirmed 180 cases. As of Aug. 8, Durham County had 3-14 cases. Testing is available at all Duke Urgent Care locations, emergency departments and some primary care providers. People who suspect they have monkeypox should call their primary care doctor in advance to ask if testing is available.
Who is eligible to receive a monkeypox vaccine?
According to the state health department:
- People who have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox in the past 14 days.
- Gay or bisexual men or transgender individuals who report any of the following in the last 90 days:
- Having multiple sex partners or anonymous sex
- Being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection
- Receiving medications to prevent HIV infection, including a prescription for PrEP
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Kathryn Thomas is a Trinity junior and new reporter coordinator of The Chronicle's 119th volume. She was previously news editor for Volume 118.