Georgia Coastal Health District

ATLANTA –The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) continues to closely monitor the current outbreak of monkeypox in the state. As of today, there are 625 confirmed monkeypox cases in Georgia. Testing and vaccination are available in health districts throughout the state; however, vaccine supplies from the federal government remain limited.

The monkeypox virus can spread from person-to-person through direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. It also can be spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex. 

More than 90% of the people with monkeypox in the current outbreak generally report having close, sustained physical contact with other people who have monkeypox. While many of those affected in the current global outbreaks are gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox can get the illness.

Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids is another way monkeypox spreads but has not been identified to be a common mode of transmission in this outbreak or for monkeypox in general.

The risk of contracting monkeypox is based on exposure – an individual must be exposed to enough virus to become infected. What is currently known about monkeypox transmission indicates that sharing bedding or towels with someone who is infected with monkeypox would carry more risk than passing encounters with money or a door handle or other environmental surfaces.

Most settings where people congregate such as workplaces, schools, grocery stores, gas station, or public transportation are not considered high risk settings for monkeypox transmission. It is important to remember that monkeypox is not transmitted like COVID and typically takes skin-to-skin or other close contact to transmit. Unlike COVID or measles, this means far lower risk to persons that may be in a room with someone with monkeypox, but who do not have contact with the infected individual. 

There are things you can do to protect yourself from getting monkeypox:  

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.

• Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
• Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
• Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.
• Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.

For more information on monkeypox, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/monkeypox or https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html.

The Coastal Health District’s monkeypox vaccination program is expanding. In addition to the Chatham County Health Department in Savannah, the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine will also be available at the Glynn County Health Department in Brunswick beginning Friday, August 5th.

You must have an appointment for vaccination as supply is still limited. Appointments can be self-scheduled online at coastalhealthdistrict.org/monkeypox. The first batch of appointments filled in less than 24 hours, and appointments are expected to continue to fill quickly. Additional appointments will be added as more vaccine arrives.

Jynneos is a vaccine for prevention of monkeypox disease, given in a two-dose series, administered four weeks apart. To be eligible for monkeypox vaccination at this time, individuals must be at least 18 years of age and meet the following criteria:

• Individual is a gay male, a bisexual male, or a male that has sex with other males.
• Individual has had a sexual partner in the past 14 days who has received a monkeypox diagnosis OR had multiple sexual partners in the past 14 days in an area with known monkeypox.
• Individual currently does NOT have signs or symptoms consistent with a monkeypox infection (fever, headache, muscle ache, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, or a rash/blisters on the face, inside of the mouth, or on other parts of the body).

More information is available on the website of the Coastal Health District at coastalhealthdistrict.org/monkeypox and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/monkeypox.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life. We know the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of life, including your ability to attend important appointments and receive routine vaccinations. During NIAM, we encourage you to talk to your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider to ensure you and your family are protected against serious diseases by getting caught up on routine vaccination.

As your children head back to school this fall, it’s particularly important for you to work with your child’s healthcare provider e to make sure they get caught up on missed well-child visits and recommended vaccines.

Remember to take care of yourself too! Make sure to receive any vaccines you need to stay healthy. Use CDC’s adult vaccine assessment tool to see which vaccines might be right for you.

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Today, the Coastal Health District received its first shipment of Jynneos, a vaccine for prevention of monkeypox disease. Vaccinations will begin on Monday, August 1st, to qualifying individuals –appointments are required. Initially, appointments will only be available at the Chatham County Health Department’s main clinic at 1395 Eisenhower Drive, though additional locations will be added as vaccine supply increases.

Appointments can be self-scheduled online through a link at coastalhealthdistrict.org/monkeypox. You must have an appointment – there is no walk-up availability. Appointments are expected to fill quickly, and additional appointments will be added as more vaccine arrives.

To be eligible for monkeypox vaccination at this time, individuals must be at least 18 years of age and meet the following criteria:

• Individual is a gay male, a bisexual male, or a male that has sex with other males.
• Individual has had a sexual partner in the past 14 days who has received a monkeypox diagnosis OR had multiple sexual partners in the past 14 days in an area with known monkeypox.
• Individual currently does NOT have signs or symptoms consistent with a monkeypox infection (fever, headache, muscle ache, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, or a rash/blisters on the face, inside of the mouth, or on other parts of the body).

Jynneos is given in a two-dose series, administered four weeks apart.

More information is available on the monkeypox page of our website and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/monkeypox.

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High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can greatly increase risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Making certain lifestyle changes can help lower blood pressure and lead to a healthier lifestyle. The Coastal Health District Chronic Disease Prevention Program will host a free, virtual five-part Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) series in August to help residents who are hypertensive, pre-hypertensive, or at higher risk of becoming hypertensive learn how to adopt healthier habits.

The DASH series will begin on August 1 and continue August 8, 15, 22, and 29. Each session will be held twice a day – once at 1 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m.    

“The great thing about this program is that it doesn’t require fancy foods or menus,” said Coastal Health District Chronic Disease Prevention Director, Cristina Gibson. “The DASH plan gives you the tools to make gradual changes that will result in positive long-term changes to your health.”

DASH was developed by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute as a flexible and balanced eating plan to create a heart-healthy eating style. For more information on DASH and the upcoming sessions, visit our website at coastalhealthdistrict.org/dash.

Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has begun receiving limited doses of monkeypox vaccine. To date, Georgia has received approximately 3,000 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine – enough for 1,500 individuals since this is a two-dose vaccine series. The vaccine has been distributed upon request to health departments and for vaccination events in two counties. Allocations of monkeypox vaccine from the federal government will increase as production of the vaccine ramps up. 

To date, DPH has confirmed 93 monkeypox cases in Georgia, all among men living in metro Atlanta. The majority of these cases identify as men who have sex with men. As such we are prioritizing vaccine distribution in five metro counties – Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton. There is no residency requirement; however, individuals must register for an appointment and meet certain eligibility requirements. JYNNEOS is a two-vaccine series with 28 days in between doses.

Because demand outweighs supply, DPH is following the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and prioritizing monkeypox vaccine for individuals at high risk of infection. Vaccination may be recommended for people who are close personal contacts of people with monkeypox, individuals who may have been exposed to monkeypox, or people who have increased risk of being exposed to the virus such as lab workers. Individuals are urged to speak with their healthcare provider if they are in one of these groups.

People with monkeypox in the current outbreak generally report having close, sustained physical contact with other people who have monkeypox. While many of those affected in the current global outbreaks are gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox can get the illness.

While monkeypox does not spread like COVID-19, everyone should take steps to protect themselves from monkeypox.

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.
• Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
• Do not kiss, hug, cuddle, or have close personal contact with someone with monkeypox.
• Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

DPH is working to create online scheduling for monkeypox vaccine as our allocations increase. We will keep you updated on when that scheduling system will be ready and provide information on accessing it. Until then, we urge individuals who may have had contact with monkeypox or are high risk of exposure to contact their healthcare provider.

For more information on monkeypox, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/acute-disease-epidemiology/monkeypox or https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html.