On Monday, California’s governor declared a state of emergency to speed up efforts to combat the monkeypox outbreak, becoming the second state in three days to take that step.
Gavin Newsom said the declaration will help the state coordinate a government-wide response, seek more vaccines and lead outreach and education efforts about where people can get treatment and vaccines.
“We will continue to work with the federal government to provide more vaccines, raise awareness about risk reduction, and stand with the LGBTQ community fighting stigma,” the Democratic governor said in a statement.
The monkeypox virus is spread through prolonged and close skin-to-skin contact, which may include hugging, cuddling and kissing, as well as sharing bedding, towels and clothing. People who have gotten sick so far have mostly been men who have sex with men, although health officials note that the virus can infect anyone.
“Public health officials are clear: stigma is unacceptable and counterproductive in the public health response,” Michelle Gibbons, executive director of the California Association of Healthcare Executives, said in a statement. “The fact is that monkeypox is spread primarily through skin-to-skin contact and the sharing of items such as bedding or towels, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
WATCH | Monkeypox cases on the rise in Canada:
Monkeypox cases continue to rise in Canada
As cases of monkeypox increase in Canada, concerns are growing that a vaccine is not widely available and time may be running out to contain the spread.
The type of monkeypox virus identified in this outbreak is rarely fatal, and people usually recover within weeks. But the lesions and blisters caused by the virus are painful and can interfere with swallowing or bowel movements if they are in the throat or anus.
The declaration in California followed similar declarations in New York state on Saturday and in San Francisco on Thursday. But the Newsom administration said as early as Friday that it was too early for such a declaration.
After urging Newsom to make such a declaration, Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco applauded the governor’s decision.
“The monkeypox epidemic is an emergency and we must use every tool at our disposal to control it,” Wiener said.
Calls for more vaccines
On July 23 at WHO announced monkeypox a”public health emergency of international concern.” Doctors fear the same pattern will repeat itself as Canada, the US and European countries rush to vaccinate at-risk groups.
They use a vaccine originally made for smallpox that has been destroyed. In Canada it’s called Imvamune and small quantities were stockpiled years ago in case smallpox ever returned. Imvamune is also approved to vaccinate humans against monkeypox.
Newsom’s proclamation allows emergency medical personnel to administer monkeypox vaccines that are approved by the federal government.
A man is vaccinated against monkeypox at an outdoor clinic in Montreal on July 23. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)
This is similar to a recent law that allows pharmacists to administer vaccines, the Newsom administration said. It said the state’s response builds on steps developed during the coronavirus pandemic to establish vaccination clinics and ensure coverage of vulnerable populations in collaboration with local and community-based organizations.
California has received more than 61,000 doses of vaccine and distributed more than 25,000 doses.
“We have no time to lose,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement.
Barger said the nation’s most populous county must use all available resources to speed up the distribution of vaccines and help those who have been infected.
WATCH | This American came to Canada for the monkeypox vaccine:
To get a monkeypox vaccine, this American came to Canada
Seattle, Washington resident Justin Moore was trucked across the British Columbia border with several friends to get vaccinated against monkeypox, something he said he couldn’t get at home. He described the Canadian experience as “exhilarating.”
Newsom’s office said Los Angeles County received a separate vaccine distribution.
As of last week, the state has expanded its testing capacity to process more than 1,000 tests a week.
In San Francisco, Peter Tran was among hundreds who lined up sometimes for hours to receive the monkeypox vaccine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Monday. The clinic was forced to close last week because it did not receive enough doses.
WATCH | Concerns about public health messages surrounding monkeypox:
Concerns about public health messages surrounding monkeypox
As monkeypox cases spread around the world, predominantly among men who have sex with men, there is growing concern that public health messages aimed at this community have missed the mark.
“It’s terrible. It’s like it’s a vaccine that’s been on the market for so long. And apparently it’s not even a deadly disease. It is more difficult to transmit than COVID. But the distribution of vaccines in this nation is absolutely terrible,” Tran said.
“I think the science shows that protection is greatly enhanced with the vaccine. That’s why I do it. And frankly, I just don’t want the lesions on my body.”
The city received about 4,000 doses Friday and hopes to administer them by midweek, said Dr. Lukejohn Day, chief medical officer at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
The city had 305 cases as of Monday, he said.
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