Abstract and Introduction
Introduction
Vaccination with JYNNEOS vaccine (Modified Vaccinia Ankara vaccine, Bavarian Nordic) to prevent monkeypox commenced shortly after confirmation of the first monkeypox case in the current outbreak in the United States on May 17, 2022.[1] To date, more than 27,000 cases have been reported across all 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), and Puerto Rico.* JYNNEOS vaccine is licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a 0.5-mL 2-dose series administered subcutaneously 28 days apart to prevent smallpox and monkeypox infections[2] and has been found to provide protection against monkeypox infection during the current outbreak.[3] The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allocated 1.1 million vials of JYNNEOS vaccine from the Strategic National Stockpile, with doses allocated to jurisdictions based on case counts and estimated size of population at risk.[4] However, initial vaccine supplies were severely constrained relative to vaccine demand during the expanding outbreak. Some jurisdictions with highest incidence responded by prioritizing first dose administration during May–July.[5,6] The FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) of 0.1 mL dosing for intradermal administration of JYNNEOS for persons aged ≥18 years on August 9, 2022, substantially expanded available vaccine supply†.[7] The U.S. vaccination strategy focuses primarily on persons with known or presumed exposures to monkeypox[8] or those at high risk for occupational exposure.[9] Data on monkeypox vaccine doses administered and reported to CDC by U.S. jurisdictions were analyzed to assess vaccine administration and completion of the 2-dose series. A total of 931,155 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine were administered and reported to the CDC by 55 U.S. jurisdictions during May 22–October 10, 2022. Among persons who received ≥1 dose, 51.4% were non-Hispanic White (White), 22.5% were Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic), and 12.6% were non-Hispanic Black or African American (Black). The percentages of vaccine recipients who were Black (5.6%) and Hispanic (15.5%) during May 22–June 25 increased to 13.3% and 22.7%, respectively, during July 31–October 10. Among 496,888 persons who received a first dose and were eligible for a second dose during the study period, 57.6% received their second dose. Second dose receipt was highest among older adults, White persons, and those residing in the South U.S. Census Bureau Region. Tracking and addressing disparities in vaccination can reduce inequities, and equitable access to and acceptance of vaccine should be an essential factor in planning vaccination programs, events, and strategies. Receipt of both first and second doses is necessary for optimal protection against Monkeypox virus infection.
The system for reporting monkeypox vaccination data was adapted from existing infrastructure and data flow structures developed for reporting COVID-19 vaccine administration data.§ Providers submitted monkeypox vaccination data to their jurisdiction's immunization information systems (IIS); state, local, and territorial jurisdictions reported vaccine administration data to CDC. Monkeypox vaccine doses administered to persons in 49 states, New York City, Philadelphia, DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands during May 22–October 10, 2022, and reported to CDC as of October 12, 2022, were analyzed to assess vaccination by sex, age group, race and ethnicity, U.S. Census Bureau region, and urbanicity.¶
The proportion of persons who received a second JYNNEOS vaccine dose was calculated from among all persons who received a first dose and were due for their second dose during the study period.** First and second doses were linked by CDC based on a recipient identifier assigned by the reporting entity and the three-digit reporting entity code.†† The interval in days between first and second doses was calculated using date of administration for each dose. Analyses were conducted using SQL Server Management Studio (version 18; Microsoft) and SAS software (version 9.4; SAS Institute). This activity was reviewed by CDC and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.§§
During May 22–October 10, 2022, a total of 931,155 JYNNEOS vaccine doses were administered and reported to CDC by U.S. jurisdictions, including 628,610 (67.5%) first doses, 301,770 (32.4%) second doses, and 775 (0.1%) third, fourth, or fifth doses.¶¶ Weekly first dose administration peaked at 102,262 during the week August 7–13 (Supplementary Figure, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/121818). The majority of vaccine doses (63%) were administered in the six states reporting the highest monkeypox case counts (California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, and Texas).***
Among 628,610 persons who received ≥1 dose of vaccine, 91.9% were male, and 65.4% were aged 25–49 years (Table 1). Most vaccine recipients were residents of urban counties (82.5%); 15.9% and 1.6% lived in suburban and rural counties, respectively. Race and ethnicity were reported for 91.0% of vaccinated persons; among those, 51.4% were White, 22.5% were Hispanic, 12.6% were Black, and 7.6% were Asian persons. The percentages of vaccine recipients who were Black (5.6%) and Hispanic (15.5%) during May 22–June 25, increased to 9.4% and 21.9%, respectively, during June 26–July 30, and to 13.3% and 22.7%, respectively, during July 31–October 10 (Figure) (Supplementary Table 1, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/121816). The most common provider sites where persons received vaccines were public health clinics (41.5%), commercial vaccination service providers (13.6%), medical practices (9.3%), and hospitals (9.1%) (Table 1).
Figure.
Race and ethnicity*,† of persons who received ≥1 dose of JYNNEOS vaccine, by week of administration — United States, May 22–October 8, 2022
*Race and ethnicity were missing for 56,460 (9.0%) vaccinated persons.
†Persons with Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic) ethnicity were categorized as Hispanic and might be of any race; persons with non-Hispanic ethnicity were categorized as non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, White, multiracial (more than one race category selected), or other. Persons with missing data for either race or ethnicity were categorized as unknown race and ethnicity.
Among 496,888 first-dose vaccine recipients who were eligible to receive a second dose during the study period, 285,964 (57.6%) had received the second dose as of October 10 (Table 2). Receipt of a second dose was highest in the South (70.0%) and lowest in the Northeast (51.8%). The percentage of persons who received a second dose varied across jurisdictions (range = 22.4%–82.5%) (Supplementary Table 2, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/121817). In New York City and Philadelphia, where administration of second doses was delayed because of prioritization of first doses,[5,6] fewer than one half of first-dose recipients had received a second dose. Second dose receipt was lower among females (39.4%) than among males (59.3%), was highest among White persons (61.4%), was lowest among persons of Hispanic (53.9%) or unknown race or ethnicity (51.2%), and increased with increasing age. More than one half of eligible Black, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander persons received a second dose. Among persons who received a second dose, 68.7% received the dose within the recommended interval of 24–35 days after the first dose (median = 31 days; IQR = 28–38 days) (Table 2).
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2022;71(43):1374-1378. © 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
