SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – San Francisco's state senator is calling on the city and the state to declare a state of emergency over monkeypox as public health officials across the Bay Area await additional vaccine doses.
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State Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, said Wednesday morning that California and San Francisco declaring a state of emergency would enable "flexibility on testing, contracting for services" and "vaccine administration."
A spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom wouldn't say whether the state would declare a state of emergency, telling KCBS Radio in an emailed statement that "California is taking this outbreak very seriously" and the Newsom "administration has requested more vaccines from the federal government and contacted the manufacturer directly to ask for more."
The San Francisco Department of Public Health told KCBS Radio on Wednesday afternoon that it is "currently reviewing all options that will provide more support for testing, treatment and vaccine resources to help stop community spread of monkeypox."
Earlier that day, officials said that the city will receive more than 4,000 additional doses this week, allowing the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital clinic to reopen for walk-ins and appointments after closing on Tuesday.
San Francisco asked federal officials to provide 35,000 vaccine doses, but this week’s allotment will bring the total up to little more than one-third of that request. Officials on Tuesday said there were 222 confirmed or probable monkeypox cases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday that California had more than 17% of the 4,369 national cases, despite having about 12% of the country’s population.
Other Bay Area counties are also running low on doses. Public health officials in Santa Clara County said that 380 appointments at the newly opened vaccine clinic on the county fairgrounds were fully booked for Wednesday and Thursday.
The county will open additional appointments once it receives additional vaccine doses from state and federal officials. Santa Clara County expects 700 more doses in the coming days.
Of the 39 probable or confirmed cases in the Bay Area's most populous county, 21 are among Hispanic and Latino residents. Officials said 41% of total cases occurred in Hispanic or Latino gay men, when 26% of the county is Hispanic or Latino. Those discrepancies are "similar to patterns seen in other jurisdictions," according to the county.
Monkeypox, which officials have stressed that anyone can contract regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, has been detected in all nine Bay Area counties. The virus spreads through close skin-to-skin and sexual contact, as well as sharing bedding and clothing. It often begins as flu-like symptoms before developing into a rash or sores.
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