Beebe Healthcare, DPH partner to offer monkeypox vaccine during AIDS Walk

Beebe Healthcare and the Delaware Division of Public Health will partner Saturday, Sept. 17, to offer monkeypox vaccines during the Rehoboth Beach AIDS Walk.

Individuals do not need to be registered for the walk to be vaccinated, nor is pre-registration required for vaccination at the Rehoboth Beach event, public health officials said.

The vaccination event will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., officials said, and staff will provide onsite assistance to schedule second doses. Individuals should bring their ID and insurance card.  

While the vaccine is free, officials said, there may be a small administration fee (less than $30), which typically is covered by insurance, but may be billable to a patient without insurance coverage. 

There are currently 33 cases of monkeypox in the state, with nine cases in Sussex County, officials said. 

Delaware continues to offer vaccinations to people at a higher risk of exposure, such as those treated for a sexually transmitted infection in the last six months, people experiencing homelessness, those who are incarcerated, or individuals traveling to an area with community spread of monkeypox. Currently, officials said, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not encouraging vaccination against monkeypox for the broader public or for everyone who is sexually active.

Other high-risk individuals include:

• Persons known or presumed to be exposed to someone with monkeypox in the last 14 days
• Certain individuals who have sex with men and who have had multiple sex partners within the past 14 days
• Those living with HIV or who are receiving HIV PrEP
• Immunocompromised persons, including those with cancer, solid organ or stem cell transplants, those taking immunosuppressive therapy, and individuals with autoimmune disease 
• Staff at establishments where sexual activity occurs, such as bathhouses, saunas or sex clubs.

Officials said the vaccine, a two-dose series given 28 days apart, is not considered effective until two weeks after the second dose. Those at higher risk should continue using preventive measures and reduce engaging in high-risk behaviors before and after vaccination.

Eligible Delawareans can get monkeypox vaccinations at DPH clinics and Beebe Healthcare, but walk-ins are not accepted, officials said. Individuals can schedule an appointment at beebehealthcare.org/online-scheduling. 

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of monkeypox are similar to, but milder than, the symptoms of smallpox. Symptoms usually start within three weeks of exposure to the virus. Most people who contract monkeypox will develop a rash, and some will develop flu-like symptoms beforehand. The flu-like symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, sore throat, cough, swollen lymph nodes, chills or exhaustion. If someone has flu-like symptoms, they usually will develop a rash one to four days later.

Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their health care provider; self-isolate until all lesions have resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed; avoid being intimate with others; and make a list of your close and intimate contacts in the last 21 days.

Officials said it can take three to four weeks for all symptoms to fully heal. While there is no specific treatment for MPX, officials said, antivirals can be prescribed, though they are not always needed. 

A hotline is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 866-408-1899. For more information, visit de.gov/monkeypox or email DPHCall@delaware.gov.