New York’s LGBTQ community is facing a severe monkeypox vaccine shortage

Since the first cases of monkeypox emerged outside western and central Africa  in May, more than 12,000 cases have been confirmed globally. Many more are likely to be identified. The World Health Organization hasn’t declared monkeypox an emergency, but public health authorities are watching the spread of the disease with concern.

The US has so far registered about 1,500 cases—the most after Spain, Germany, and the UK—with New York City accounting for a third of them. “Three weeks ago, there were 25 cases,” read a July 12 email shared within the mailing list of ActUp, an international organization working to provide health support to the LGBTQ community. ” Two weeks ago, there were 55. One week ago, there were 111. And at the start of this week, there were 223. If this trend of doubling per week continues (hopefully it won’t, but), it could be over 2,000 cases by mid-August.”

Indeed, the trend isn’t relenting: As of July 15, 461 cases of monkeypox had already been registered in the city, having doubled within just a few days; by July 18, the confirmed cases were 639. The number is now 711.

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