Is the vaccine available for Texans at highest risk of monkeypox?

The monkeypox outbreak in Texas has so far disproportionately affected black Texans. Nearly 30% of state cases only 12% of state populationaccording to state data.

However, it is difficult to understand whether black Texans have increased access to the Jyennos vaccine, which can prevent smallpox and monkeypox disease. Texas law has an unusual provision that requires vaccinated adults to agree to share their demographic information with the state. Basically, the state’s public health department only has demographic data on some of the vaccine recipients, so it’s a question of whether Black Texans have equitable access, or whether this disease and the vaccine’s roll-out will reduce existing health disparities. It is difficult to know whether it is a continuation or not.

The data held by the state “includes only those who have consented to be recorded” in the state’s immunization registry, said Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the state Department of Health Services. “We have no way of knowing how many people were vaccinated but did not consent to registration,” she said.

Demographic data on the COVID-19 vaccine will be more widely available to local health departments, doctors and communities as the virus is declared a statewide disaster, making it easier to share information about vaccine distribution It is now possible. But for most vaccines, whether it’s the seasonal flu shot or the shingles vaccine, the community is in the dark when it comes to knowing the exact number and type of vaccines that will have access.

Dr. Philip Huang, director of the Dallas County Health Department, said:

Monkeypox has not been declared a statewide disaster. This means that each person who has been vaccinated must agree to share their information with the state. The local health department asked the state if there was any way to learn more about monkeypox vaccine distribution efforts. not.

Imelda Garcia, chief executive of the state health department, said at a public meeting Wednesday that she had “worked with the legal department and several people to see if there were ways the state could share more information with local departments. I am having a conversation with

The Tarrant County Public Health Department is also requesting information from the state about demographic data for the estimated 2,000 county residents who have been vaccinated, according to TCPH spokesperson Edrea Au.

Without knowing who has access to vaccines in Texas, it’s difficult to know if vaccine deployments are reaching those most at risk. Data were limited on the racial and socioeconomic groups with the highest rates and mortality.

“The new coronavirus has further demonstrated the importance of using data to pinpoint who is most at risk,” Krieger said. “And when the data can’t do that, we’re effectively in a ‘no data, no problem’ situation.”

It’s unclear if the virus is disproportionately affecting residents of Black Tarrant County. ,” spokesperson Edrea Au said in an email to Star-Telegram.

The Tarrant County Public Health Department only lists the total number of monkeypox cases on its online data dashboard. As of Thursday, there were 121 confirmed virus cases among Tarrant County residents.

“The lack of these data is a problem in understanding who is at risk,” Krieger said.

MPV, sometimes known as monkeypox, and the virus that causes COVID-19 have very different routes of transmission. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is much more contagious. So far, monkeypox is spread primarily through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity, with men who have sex with men accounting for about 94% of all cases.

Monkeypox doesn’t spread as easily as COVID-19, but its emergence means that some of the most pressing challenges in public health remain, even as the country approaches a full three-year pandemic. is shown. State and local health departments have been underfunded for decades and are still grappling with understaffing and burnout after facing harassment and abuse throughout the pandemic, Krieger said.

“What defines injustice is that there are social group or social group differences that are in principle preventable, unfair, and avoidable,” said Krieger. “The only way to know that is to compare those who are more protected and privileged.”

Ciara McCarthy is responsible for health and wellness as part of Star-Telegram’s Crossroads Lab. This position is funded with support from the Morris Foundation. She came to Fort Worth after she worked for three years in Victoria, Texas. Ciara is focused on giving people and communities the information they need to make decisions about their lives and well-being. If you have any questions about public health or the healthcare system, feel free to contact us. Email [email protected], call or text 817-203-4391.