Monkeypox

Although the smallpox-related virus is surging in other parts of the world, doctors in St. Louis said cases are still low in the region. But they say vaccinations can keep the risk of future spread low.

St. Louis University is enrolling people between 12 and 50 years old to participate in a clinical trial to test if the mpox vaccine works as well in teens as it does in adults. The federal government has approved the vaccine for emergency use in minors, but it hasn’t given full approval.

Scientists at the University of Missouri have found mutations in the monkeypox virus are likely making it less responsive to medicines. The four-person team studied strains of the virus going back decades.

After weeks of requiring people to submit online eligibility forms to receive the monkeypox vaccine, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is now letting clinics determine eligibility for the shots. LGBTQ advocates fear the online form, which asks questions about sexual behavior, discourages some people from seeking the vaccine.

Missouri requires people who want the monkeypox vaccine to fill out an online form disclosing their sexual identities and behavior. The form aims to ensure limited amounts of vaccine get to those who are most at risk. But some LGBTQ advocates worry the screenings could discourage people from getting vaccinated.

Two dozen cases of monkeypox have been reported in Missouri, with about one-third of those cases in St. Louis. While the state’s case count is much lower than in Illinois, New York and other states with higher populations, health officials are trying to keep the virus from spreading through education and prevention.

This is the first school year in which all ages will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, but so far uptake has been lower for younger age groups.

Monkeypox is not spreading widely in St. Louis, but demand for the vaccine far outpaces the limited supply. To get the vaccine to the highest-risk people, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health will oversee distribution in St. Louis and in St. Charles, Jefferson and St. Louis counties.

St. Louis health officials have reported the city’s first probable case of monkeypox. The case has not been confirmed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the CDC has recently confirmed three cases of monkeypox in Missouri.