California’s governor declared a state of emergency on Monday to speed up efforts to combat the monkeypox outbreak, becoming the second state in three days to take the step.
Gavin Newsom said the declaration will help the state coordinate a government-wide response, seek more vaccines and lead outreach and education efforts about where people can get treatment and vaccines.
“We will continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about risk reduction and stand with the LGBTQ community fighting stigma,” the Democratic governor said in a statement.
The monkeypox virus is spread through close and prolonged skin-to-skin contact, which can include hugging, cuddling, and kissing, as well as sharing bedding, towels, and clothing. Those who have fallen ill so far have mostly been men who have sex with men, although health officials note that the virus can infect anyone.
“Public health officials are clear: stigma is unacceptable and counterproductive in the public health response,” Michelle Gibbons, executive director of the California Association of County Health Executives, said in a statement. “The fact is that monkeypox is transmitted primarily by skin-to-skin contact and by sharing objects such as bedding or towels, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
LOOK | Monkeypox cases on the rise in Canada:
Cases of monkeypox continue to rise in Canada
As cases of monkeypox increase in Canada, there is growing concern that the vaccine is not widely available and time may be running out to contain the spread.
The type of monkeypox virus identified in this outbreak is rarely fatal, and people usually recover within a few weeks. But the lesions and blisters caused by the virus are painful, and can prevent swallowing or bowel movements if they are in the throat or anus.
The statement in California followed a similar statement in New York state on Saturday and San Francisco on Thursday. But the Newsom administration had said as recently as Friday that it was too soon for that statement.
After pushing for Newsom to make that statement, Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco praised the governor’s decision.
“The monkeypox outbreak is an emergency and we need to use all the tools we have to control it,” Wiener said.
Ask for more vaccines
On July 23, the the WHO declared monkey pox a “public health emergency of international interestDoctors fear the same pattern will repeat itself as Canada, the US and European countries rush to vaccinate at-risk populations.
They are using a vaccine originally made for smallpox, which has been eradicated. In Canada, it’s called Imvamune, and years ago small amounts were stockpiled in case smallpox came back. Imvamune is also approved to vaccinate people against monkeypox.
Newsom’s proclamation allows emergency medical personnel to administer federally approved monkeypox vaccines.
A person is given a monkeypox vaccine at an outdoor clinic in Montreal on July 23. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)
This is similar to a recent law allowing pharmacists to administer vaccines, the Newsom administration said. He said the state’s response builds on steps taken during the coronavirus pandemic to establish vaccination clinics and ensure there is outreach to vulnerable populations in cooperation with local and community organizations.
California has received more than 61,000 doses of vaccine and distributed more than 25,000 doses.
“We have no time to waste,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement.
Barger said the nation’s most populous county must use all available resources to speed up vaccine distribution and help those who have been infected.
LOOK | This American came to Canada for the monkeypox vaccine:
To get the monkey pox vaccine, this American came to Canada
Justin Moore, a resident of Seattle, Washington, crossed the border into British Columbia in a truck, along with several friends, to get the monkey pox vaccine, which he says he couldn’t get at home. He described the Canadian experience as “uplifting.”
Newsom’s office said Los Angeles County has received a separate allocation of vaccine.
Last week, the state had expanded its testing capacity to process more than 1,000 tests a week.
In San Francisco, Peter Tran was among hundreds who lined up sometimes for hours to receive the monkeypox vaccine Monday at Zuckerberg General Hospital in San Francisco. The clinic had been forced to close last week because it did not receive enough doses.
LOOK | Public health messaging concerns around monkeypox:
Concerns about public health messages around monkeypox
As cases of monkeypox spread around the world, overwhelmingly among men who have sex with men, there is growing concern that public health messages aimed at this community have fallen short.
“It’s horrible. Like this is a vaccine that’s been out for so long. And like, it’s not even a deadly disease. It’s harder to transmit than COVID. But the deployment of vaccines across this nation is absolutely horrible.” Tran said.
“I think the science shows that the protection is greatly improved with the vaccine. So that’s why I’m doing it. And honestly, I don’t want the lesions on my body.”
The city received about 4,000 doses Friday and hopes to administer them by midweek, said Dr. Lukejohn Day, chief medical officer at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
The city had 305 cases as of Monday, he said.