West Virginia Public Health Officials Juggle Multiple Vaccination Efforts

September 19, 2022

News Release | AP

CHARLESTON, WV - Public health officials in West Virginia are coordinating multiple vaccine efforts at once: Flu shot season, the release of the new bivalent COVID-19 booster and the limited influx of monkeypox vaccines.

Initial doses of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, which provides protection not only against the original strain of the virus but against the newer BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants, are now available at health departments, pharmacies and locations across the state.

Health departments had received only Pfizer doses as of last week, but were expected to receive more doses, including Moderna doses, in the coming days and weeks. The state’s initial allotment of Moderna doses went to long-term care facilities for the vaccination of that high-risk population, according to health officials.

Individuals 12 and older who received their last booster at least two months ago are eligible to receive the updated booster.

Demand for COVID-19 boosters has increased tremendously since the release of the updated vaccine, according to Kanawha-Charleston Health Department Health Officer and Executive Director Dr. Steven Eshenaur.

“Prior to the release of the bivalent booster, we were doing some boosters but did not see a significant demand. However, once we advertised the bivalent booster availability, we’ve been giving over 100 per day. We’ve definitely seen an uptick in the requests for the boosters and patients coming in to receive it,” he said.

“This is very promising in that this actually provides immunity for that specific strain that is within our community.”

Eshenaur encouraged all people to receive the booster, and to consider getting an updated flu shot at the same time.

The world community also continues to battle an epidemic of monkeypox cases. As of Sept. 15, there had been 23,117 cases reported in the United States, including 11 in West Virginia, according to the CDC.

This is one more case in the state than the previous week, when there were 10 cases of monkeypox. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources declined to provide information on the counties where these cases were located, citing policy to suppress small case numbers (under four) to help protect patient confidentiality.

The agency did, however, provide a breakdown by region for 10 of the cases. That breakdown indicates the identified cases are scattered throughout the state, including one case in the Central Region, three cases in the Eastern Region, one case in the Northeastern Region, two cases in the Northwestern Region, one case in the Southern Region and two cases in the Western Region, according to Jessica Holstein, assistant director of communications for the state Department of Health and Human Resources.

The risk is low for monkeypox, Holstein said.

Cases have been publicly identified in Berkeley, Kanawha, Hancock and Monongalia counties.

Supply of the JYNNEOS vaccine against monkeypox has been in limited supply. As of Sept. 12, West Virginia had received 1,070 vials. Each vial contains up to five doses.

The state distributed 742 of those vials to health departments with distribution continuing as needed, according to Holstein.

Another 46 vials went to Health Right, she said.

“To date there have been 106 vials of the medication used statewide, accounting for 367 doses. West Virginia has been able to meet the demand with distributed and available doses based on the CDC guidance,” Holstein said.

Health departments have largely focused efforts on high risk communities, per the national vaccination strategy. Monkeypox is primarily spread through close personal or intimate contact with an infected individual, including direct skin-to-skin contact with monkeypox rash or bodily fluids from an infected person. Although anyone with exposure can get the virus, it is currently predominantly circulating among men who have sex with men. Other risk factors include unprotected sex and anonymous sex.

The vaccine is given in a two-dose series, with the second shot 28 days after the first. It is then an additional 15 days before the body reaches full immunity.

“The whole process from start to finish is a six-week process. My concern is that, as with many things, there’s always a big interest at the start and then it kind of dies off. We want to ensure that the people we’ve given the first dose to return for their second dose. We think that’s very important and we want to make sure we’re getting the maximum number of people vaccinated. We are trying to make those arrangements, get more dosing vials in and set up additional clinics for that,” said Monongalia County Health Department Executive Director and County Health Officer Dr. Lee B. Smith.

Counties where cases have been publicly identified appear to have higher interest and demand for the vaccine.

For example, whereas the Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department has seen low demand to date, according to Executive Director Chad Bundy, Monongalia County saw an increase in demand after West Virginia University announced a case among its student body.

Public health officials are currently targeting high-risk populations through outreach at events, including gay pride picnics, parades and festivals. These efforts have been effective, according to officials.

“The good news is, the at-risk community has been very receptive to receiving the vaccine and a number of individuals have been vaccinated to date,” Eshenaur said.

Although risk is currently low, anyone can get the virus. Smith said the most important thing the population can do right now is to continue to seek updates on accurate information, and to get vaccinated it you qualify.