Health

Austin Mobilizes Medical Reserve Corps for Mpox Vaccination Amid Global Health Alerts

Updated
Aug 29, 2024 8:42 AM
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AUSTIN- The Austin Travis County Medical Reserve Corps established a vaccination clinic at the Montopolis Recreation Center on Saturday in response to a more contagious strain of Mpox, which was previously known as Monkeypox.

This initiative is in response to the World Health Organization's recent warning, which designated the ongoing Mpox outbreak as a public health emergency.

The clinic's initial anticipation of 20 patients for the entire day was surpassed by approximately 40 individuals who had arrived for the Jynneos vaccine by 11 a.m. 

"It has been significantly busier than anticipated; however, this is a positive challenge to address," stated Isabel Cantu, the program coordinator.

Carmen, one of the attendants, underscored the significance of vaccination, asserting, "It is imperative to protect your health." 

Since the previous outbreak, the number of confirmed Mpox cases in Travis County has increased to more than 320, prompting health officials to urge residents to take action.

Cantu reassured the public, noting that the current variant is more transmissible but not comparable to COVID-19. "We want individuals at risk to be identified, as sometimes this can go unnoticed," she emphasized.

Health officials are urging individuals who are at risk to receive the Jynneos vaccine at no cost. 

Additional vaccination sites and resources are being implemented to guarantee that community members have access to the requisite protection against Mpox as the situation develops.

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