South Middlesex Times

A recent survey conducted by Rutgers Health highlights the vaccination trends among LGBTQ+ individuals in New York and New Jersey during the 2022 Mpox outbreak. The study, published in the Journal of Community Health, focuses on the behaviors and access to vaccinations against Mpox, a viral disease previously known as monkeypox.

The findings show that cisgender men, gay individuals, and full-time employees had the highest rates of vaccination. "We were able to add questions about whether or not people had heard about Mpox, how concerned they were, and then when the vaccine became available that July [2022], we added a couple of additional questions about whether they were vaccinated," said Kristen Krause, an assistant professor at Rutgers University's School of Public Health and lead author of the study.

In total, 253 LGBTQ+ adults participated in the survey. Among them, 144 answered additional questions regarding their vaccination status and access. The majority identified as white, full-time workers who were gay or lesbian. Results indicated that 90.9% of cisgender men and 95.1% of gay-identified participants either received at least one dose or intended to get vaccinated. Full-time employees reported an above-average vaccination rate of 81.6%.

The study also highlighted challenges faced by HIV-negative individuals in securing vaccination appointments. This aligns with previous research indicating easier healthcare access for those living with HIV due to established provider relationships. "If you're already connected to care, it's typically a little bit easier to access," Krause noted.

Overall findings revealed that two-thirds would likely get vaccinated if easily available; however, over half found it difficult to secure appointments due to accessibility issues such as limited hours.

"A lot of the anecdotes that we'd hear in the city suggested that if appointments were available, they weren't always easily accessible or they filled up really quickly," Krause explained.

Interestingly, no racial disparities in vaccine access were observed—a rarity in public health studies—which may be attributed to sample size limitations.

With no specific Mpox vaccine developed yet, efforts relied on Jynneos (a smallpox vaccine) hoping for cross-protection given virus similarities despite global supply shortages leading U.S authorities towards dose-sparing strategies starting August 2022 through intradermal administration methods raising efficacy concerns initially but later showing promising results according CDC data stating unvaccinated individuals faced fourteen times higher infection risk compared those vaccinated

As cases rise again amid ongoing concerns surrounding long-term immunity levels post-vaccination from last year’s campaign calls intensify among researchers like Krause urging further investigation into durability aspects especially across varied demographics "Are those people who got vaccinated in 2022 still enjoying some level of immunity there?" she asked emphasizing its importance currently facing renewed threats posed by potential resurgence