QUICK READ:
- The Online Clinical Care Advisories and Messages (OCCAM) website is a good resource for monkeypox information
- Monkeypox vaccines are available to increasing numbers of individuals who are considered to have the highest risk of contracting the infection.
- Primary care and urgent care clinics can test for monkeypox.
- New centralized Epic referral and scheduling features are available for monkeypox treatment.
- Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and consistent hand hygiene practices effectively mitigate transmission of monkeypox at work.
UW Medicine Infection Prevention & Control and clinical operations have been working to bring the monkeypox vaccine to as many eligible high-risk individuals as possible while enhancing UW Medicine’s screening and treatment options. To date, there have been more than 420 cases of confirmed monkeypox in King County.
OCCAM: The Online Clinical Care Advisories and Messages (OCCAM) website includes information for clinicians on monkeypox evaluation, vaccines, patient education and treatment. The site links directly to updates from Public Health — Seattle & King County and from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the eligibility criteria for the monkeypox vaccine may change, it is important to visit these sites often to get the most up-to-date information on who is eligible for the vaccine. The current eligibility requirements include additional individuals who are now considered high risk and eligible for vaccination.
Monkeypox Vaccine: UW Medicine is working to equitably distribute the monkeypox vaccine (JYNNEOS). We have been scheduling appointments for first doses of the vaccine at several clinics within UW Medicine. We also hosted three successful pop-up clinics so far and dispensed more than 1,400 doses over the past month. Several clinics are also reaching out to patients who are considered high risk for contracting monkeypox and proactively scheduling them.
Second dose appointments may be scheduled a minimum of 28 days from the time of a patient’s initial dose. All vaccinations are by appointment only, and patients can visit the UW Medicine monkeypox webpage or call 877.520.7770 to schedule. The website is updated regularly and offers up-to-date information on vaccinations, prevention and treatment.
Monkeypox Testing: All primary care clinics as well as urgent care clinics are able to test for monkeypox. UW Medicine Laboratory Medicine is processing monkeypox tests Monday through Saturday with an average turnaround time of 24 hours for test results.
Monkeypox Treatment: Until recently, monkeypox infections were rare in the United States. The disease is rarely deadly and often resolves on its own without treatment. There is, however, a treatment for monkeypox called tecovirimat, also known by the brand name TPOXX. Several UW Medicine clinics offer the treatment, and patients will be appointed using the centralized appointing feature in EPIC. Individuals may also self-refer for treatment by calling 877.520.7770.
Additionally, tecovirimat is now also available through a randomized controlled study. This study is being conducted by the University of Washington Positive Research (UWPR) at Harborview Medical Center. Text or call 206.773.7129 or email positiveresearch@uw.edu for more information. Patient and provider referrals are welcome.
What UW Medicine Employees Should Know About Transmission: Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and consistent hand hygiene practices effectively mitigate transmission of monkeypox at work. If staff have concerns or believe they have been exposed, they should reach out to Employee Health. At this time, we are not vaccinating staff unless they have had a high-risk exposure. Staff who believe they are at high risk should receive the vaccine as a patient rather than as an employee. Unlike COVID-19, monkeypox is not an airborne infection.
We are grateful for the many people who have come together across UW Medicine to create workflows for vaccinations, testing and treatment options for monkeypox. We continue to partner with Public Health — Seattle & King County to reach out to our most vulnerable communities by holding community conversations in both English and Spanish and by providing information to the media to ensure that those at highest risk are vaccinated and that testing and treatment are available for all.
Sincerely,
Shireesha Dhanireddy, MD
Professor, Department of Medicine,
Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
Medical Director, Infectious Disease Clinic, Madison Clinic
Harborview Medical Center
Santiago Neme, MD, MPH
Medical Director, UW Medical Center – Northwest
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine
Div. of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
UW School of Medicine
