New York City has stressed to the US government the “urgency” with which it needs monkeypox vaccines amid a surge in cases, its mayor said Wednesday.
America’s largest metropolis has recorded 336 infections, but that may not reflect the true numbers, according to the city’s Health Department.
Official cases rose from 267 on Tuesday compared to 223 the previous day.
Anyone can get and spread monkeypox, but many cases have been found in men who have sex with men.
The city of around nine million is home to a large gay community and health officials were forced to apologize this week after the vaccine reservation website crashed when it was overwhelmed by people trying to book appointments.
About 1,250 spots were available, but many social media users expressed frustration at not being able to book an appointment.
Mayor Eric Adams said he had a phone meeting with the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We discussed the supply shortages in New York City and the urgency to expand our access to vaccines to more people in more neighborhoods through more partners and providers,” he said in a statement.
New York is scheduled to receive 14,500 doses from the US government this week, in addition to the nearly 7,000 it has received since June 23.
Health services are prioritizing the two-dose vaccine for gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men, as well as for transgender and non-binary people.
Monkeypox is a viral disease endemic to West and Central African countries that causes symptoms such as fever and rash.
It is similar but less serious than smallpox, but can be more risky in immunocompromised people. It is mainly transmitted through close contact.
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