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The Atlanta (ATL) Black Pride festival begins this weekend. Nevertheless, another virus is disproportionately affecting the Black LGBTQIA+ community – monkeypox (MPV). Moreover, due to the disproportionate impact of MPV on Black and Latinx communities, Fulton County has focused on reaching communities of color throughout the outbreak. In addition, the Biden-Harris Administration will deploy 5,500 additional vaccine doses prior to Pride festivities.
The White House also announced that it was starting a pilot program to reach populations at high risk of contracting MPV but unable to access the vaccine. There is a lack of online appointment scheduling and stigma associated with attending public vaccine events that require disclosure of sexual identity, gender identity, or level of sexual activity.
Health departments can request 10,000 vials of vaccine as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s equity intervention pilot program. There will be 100 vials available for use in up to five equity-related interventions in each jurisdiction.
These include distribution to community-based clinics where the current vaccine supply may not have reached them, distribution at LGBTQI+-focused events, and distribution to communities identified as MPV priority areas locally.
As a roadmap for equity intervention strategies, the Administration will provide a toolkit for community-based organizations and jurisdictions.
In order to receive supply for targeted equity interventions, such as ATL Black Pride, jurisdictions must have already used 50% of their received vaccines and agree to match the Federal government’s equity allocation.
Jurisdictions can contact the CDC directly to obtain these equity intervention allocations. The toolkit will be available to jurisdictions and community-based organizations in the coming weeks.