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Mecklenburg County health leaders: COVID cases rise, waitlist for monkeypox shots started

County health experts and Atrium Health were part of Wednesday's community update.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County health leaders say they're monitoring an uptick in COVID-19 cases, and there is plenty of interest in the monkeypox vaccine from citizens who want to protect themselves.

On Wednesday, Mecklenburg County Public Health (MCPH) joined with Atrium Health to discuss a rise in monkeypox cases and ways people can protect themselves from the virus. The virtual meeting included public health director Dr. Raynard Washington, communicable disease director Joy Smith, and Atrium vice president Dr. Katie Passaretti.

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Last week, MCPH noted all monkeypox vaccination appointments were filled, and the department was working with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to get more doses. On Monday, 505 additional doses of the Jynneos vaccine from the CDC and Strategic National Stockpile were received, with 141 doses reserved for second shots. As required by NCDHHS, 80 doses were transferred to other community providers.

“All of our appointments are full, and we have more than 500 individuals on our waitlist right now with that list growing by more than 100 every day," Washington said.

In North Carolina, there are currently 21 confirmed cases.

Dr. Washington said there were 12 confirmed monkeypox cases in the county as of Wednesday morning, mirroring trends seen across the country with other infections. According to him, the typical trend has seen cases in African-American men aged 25-44 who have had sexual contact with other men.

However, Washington was quick to note monkeypox is not sexually transmitted and requires only physical contact to spread. People who are seeing symptoms should refrain from intimate physical activity and get tested for monkeypox as soon as possible. If a rash is visible, it should be covered until a medical provider can take a closer look. Further, safer sex practices are encouraged beyond the men who have sex with men (MSM) category.

“We have to be sensitive to the stigma that can be potentially associated with identifying or focusing in on one group of individuals," he said. "However it also doesn’t relinquish us from our responsibility to also communicate about risk in the community.”

Washington also noted as of Wednesday, statewide testing capacity for monkeypox is still doing well, with most test results available within 24 hours. Testing capacity in North Carolina is expected to expand, however. He also wasn't worried about a shortage of testing materials since the tools used are fairly common.

MCPH noted Wednesday more than 500 people are on the waitlist for the monkeypox shots. Those interested in adding their name can do so online.

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Along with updates on monkeypox, Dr. Washington and Dr. Passaretti with Atrium discussed the latest on coronavirus spread. This comes as the BA.5 omicron subvariant becomes the dominant strain in North Carolina and as state leaders urge the public to be ready for more virus waves.

According to them, Mecklenburg County remains in the medium spread level, but 75% of counties in the U.S. are in the high level of community spread according to the CDC. BA.5 subvariant cases make up more than half of all cases in Mecklenburg County according to Dr. Washington, who urged citizens to make smart decisions about public outings in crowded or poorly-ventilated venues. Dr. Passaretti urged community members to get vaccinated or boosted to help prevent further spread.

Passaretti noted Atrium Health was seeing an increased spread in COVID-19 cases and a rise in overall hospitalizations. However, she said she was encouraged to see fewer stays in the ICU and less need for ventilators. Still, COVID cases coming into hospitals have proven to be severe enough to require a stay.

Wednesday's briefing also comes after the CDC gave the thumbs-up to the Novavax COVID-19 shot option for American adults. Unlike the other three shots, the Novavax two-dose series works more like a traditional vaccine: using copies of the coronavirus spike protein grown in a lab to mimic the virus and train the immune system to respond to it. Pfizer and Moderna's shots essentially give the body the genetic instructions for the body to churn out copies of the spike protein, while the Johnson & Johnson option uses a cold virus to deliver those instructions.

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