More MPV vaccine coming to Washington state
Washington state is authorized to receive 17,000 more monkeypox (MPV) vaccine doses.
Those additional doses are on top of the 7,000 the state has already received. According to the state Department of Health, much of the current supply has already been used for those most at risk for MPV.
RELATED: MPV outbreak in Washington state "is not under control"
Meanwhile, state Health Secretary Dr. Umair Shah said the department is working to close the gap for high-risk patients who need the shots.
"We do believe we're going to get more, it may still not be enough," Dr. Shah said. "Vaccine is absolutely critical, but even more critical is prevention, prevention, prevention."
Dr. Shah said that includes limiting sexual partners, keeping an eye out for rashes and other symptoms, and staying home if you are symptomatic.
MPV is rarely fatal, but the symptoms can be very painful.
The virus is gaining speed in the Northwest, primarily in King County. Washington state had 166 cases at last count.
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Paige Browning
Newscaster
Paige hosts midday newscasts and monitors news of significance to the Puget Sound region. She hopped over Washington’s mountains to join KUOW, after hosting news and reporting at Spokane Public Radio since 2011. She began her start in radio while a journalism student at University of Montana, by sharing stories with KUFM. Paige was raised in the mountains and rivers around Spokane. In her spare time she cheers on the Mariners in the summer, and hopes for snow in the winter.
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