Vaccine leader for Monkeypox

August brought St. Louis County its first monkeypox case. Monkeypox, or Mpox, is a rare illness caused by infection with the Mpox virus, related to the virus that causes smallpox. Mpox patients usually have flu-like symptoms and fatigue, followed by a rash that looks like pimples, sores or blisters. The sores can be painful or itchy and may first appear in the genital area. Mpox is rarely fatal.

Soon after the outbreak began, the state health department designated DPH as the vaccine hub for St. Louis County, the City of St. Louis, and St. Charles and Jefferson counties. DPH worked with its partners to reach everyone that the state deemed eligible to be vaccinated. The efforts included outreach at Tower Grove Pride in September, in which more than 500 people received the vaccine. A series of social media videos were also