HJBR Sep/Oct 2022

46 SEP / OCT 2022 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE LDH CORNER and 89% of all monkeypox cases have been among men. This is consistent with nation- al data collected by the CDC from 43 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, which showed that people of color are being dis- proportionately affected by monkeypox. Nationally, Black people make up 12% of the population but 26% of all monkeypox cases, while Hispanic people accounted for 19% of the population and 28% of all cases, according to national health data. From the beginning, LDH has fiercely advocated for Louisiana to receive more vaccine as we have engaged directly with our partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because of the department’s advocacy and our sharpened focus on closing gaps among vulnerable populations affected by the virus, the White House and the CDC agreed that Louisiana should be one of three states that would receive additional vaccine ahead of large upcoming events like Southern Decadence. New Orleans holds Southern Decadence each Labor Day weekend, and LDH has worked closely with the New Orleans Health Department, providers, and other community partners to prepare for the event with vaccinations, testing, and messaging to help participants understand their risk, symptoms, and where and how to access care. n THE Louisiana Department of Health has been planning since the emergence of the monkeypox virus in the United States to vaccinate vulnerable populations in all nine public health regions across the state. The LDH vaccine strategy is based on our com- mitment to health equity and in protecting the public health in every region of the state, using our public health infrastructure that is well-versed in community engagement and vaccine deployment. The strategy is two-pronged: highly focused, small events in trusted spaces aimed at removing barri- ers and reducing disparities, and standing up high-volume vaccine clinics in conve- nient locations, especially those timed with existing large events. Monkeypox vaccinations are available across Louisiana at standalone events like the “Vaxxtravaganza” held in New Orleans on Aug. 24; in retail locations like bars; in LDH parish health units, which also provide STI testing and other health screenings; and through traditional healthcare providers. You can find out more about these events and about monkeypox on the LDH mon- keypox website: ldh.la.gov/monkeypox LDH leveraged our statewide data collec- tion to demonstrate that racial disparities have become an area of deep concern. LDH data has shown us that 60% of monkeypox cases have been among Black residents COLUMN LDH CORNER LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Responds to Monkeypox Outbreaks with Vaccination Events Amid Fall Festival Calendar MONKEYPOX DATA GATHERED BY LDH AS OF AUGUST 26 Total of 156 infections, thevastmajority of them in Southeast Louisiana. Infections by Age • 18-29: 34% • 30-49: 59.6% • 50-64: 6.4% Infections by Race • American Indian: 1.3% • Asian: .6% • Black/AfricanAmerican: 59.6% • Native Hawaiian or other: 1.9% • White: 28.20% Infections by Gender • Female: 1.9% • Male: 89.1% • Transgender/nonbinary: 3.2% • Unknown: 5.8%