Currently, monkeypox is disproportionately affecting the LGBTQ community, which concerns Dr. Oni Blackstock, a primary care and HIV physician based in New York.
She fears that this group of people — especially those who are Black and brown — already face challenges accessing adequate health care.
“Challenges are Black queer individuals getting access to providers, having their complaints taken seriously, receiving pain treatment that they need, or even just getting access to vaccines and to testing,” she said.
Blackstock said that considering “supplies are scarce” during this outbreak, a lack of monkeypox testing and vaccinations might amplify existing health inequities.
“Some of my concerns have been how Black and brown, queer, and trans people are hearing about monkeypox,” she said. “Are they getting the information that they need? And then are they getting the information about how to access prevention, testing, and treatment services?”
The monkeypox vaccine is a two-dose regimen that should be administered within the course of a month. The Philadelphia health department says antiviral medications are available for residents who have a confirmed infection, and local officials are working with the federal government to “allocate as much vaccine as necessary to curb this outbreak.”
