Wake County begins administering monkeypox vaccines intradermally

Wake County Public Health on Monday announced it will begin administering monkeypox vaccines intradermally, or into the top layer of skin, as opposed to injecting them into muscle.

Hundreds of people in Wake County have already received 1,035 doses of the monkeypox vaccine, according to the county. Eighty-eight cases were added in the last week for a total of at least 250 cases are confirmed in North Carolina -- most in Mecklenburg County, which has 103 cases, the state reports. At last check there were 24 confirmed cases in Wake County and 11 cases in Durham County.

Only certain people with known or suspected exposure to monkeypox can get the vaccine, including:

• People who have been in close physical contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox in the last 14 days
• Men who have sex with men, or transgender individuals, who report any of the following in the last 90 days
• Having multiple or anonymous sex partners
• Being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection
• Receiving HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

The vaccine is free, but people must register online or call 919-212-9398, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. to schedule an appointment.

Monkeypox vaccines are also available in Durham and Cumberland counties.

Intradermal vs. intramuscular injection

Wake County will begin administering the vaccine intradermally following approval from U.S. Food and Drug Administration and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health officials. The switch will make more vaccines available for more people.

"This method of administering the monkeypox vaccine is going to be able to significantly expand the vaccines available, meaning we can offer a lot more protection even faster to our residents who need it," said Sig Hutchinson, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners "We're excited that our supply of doses will now stretch even further."

People who received their first dose intramuscular can get their second dose intradermally.

The intradermal method, which does not go into the muscle layer below the skin and fat, will pinch less and has been compared to needle tests for tuberculosis and allergies.

Concern over monkeypox is growing

Concern around monkeypox is growing with the number of infections. Preventative health director Rebecca Kaufman said in Wake County “we are seeing spread, we are up to 11 cases.”

“Right now most of the cases are in men who have sex with men," said Kaufman. "We know that can change quickly.”

For health workers still fighting COVID-19, monkeypox adds to the heavy workload.

At the same time, COVID has shown them how to take on a challenge like this one.

“We are going to use those lessons learned and apply them to the monkeypox vaccine,” said Kaufman.