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HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, along with the county and city health departments, and other medical community leaders, will provide a public health update Tuesday on the regional response to monkeypox and current vaccination efforts.
A news conference will take place at 9 a.m. KPRC 2 will carry a livestream of the event.
As cases continue to rise, Houston and Harris County will expand eligibility criteria to include others who may be at high risk of contracting the virus.
The Houston Health Department on Tuesday will switch to intradermal monkeypox vaccinations, an injection just under the skin, and expand eligibility criteria to the estimated 26,000 people living with HIV in Houston and Harris County, officials said in a news release.
The department has reportedly vaccinated 2,942 people, injecting the medication into the tissue layer between the skin and muscle. Changing to intradermal administration of the JYNNEOS vaccine follows revised clinical guidance recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services.
According to the department, more than 800 people received their first doses this past weekend at a special clinic that the department organized to progress quickly through booked vaccination appointments. The department has also coordinated with local physicians to ensure vaccination for another 242 people, the release said.
The department said they have advocated for additional vaccines from the federal government. The federal government has reportedly allotted 16,780 doses in separate shipments for Houston and Harris County. This week, the department expects to receive a second shipment of about 10,100 doses. It received the first shipment totaling 6,740 doses on August 2.
The monkeypox vaccination regimen is two doses given four weeks apart. The vaccine has not been widely available nationwide and widespread vaccination is not recommended at this time, the release said.
The monkeypox vaccination regimen is two doses given four weeks apart. The vaccine has not been widely available nationwide and widespread vaccination is not recommended at this time, the release said.
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