National Mpox Working Group Sends Letter to Congress Calling for $900 million in Funding – Human Rights Campaign

A breakdown of the requested funding in the letter is as follows:

1. $400 million to restore the smallpox vaccine stockpile;

2. $250 million to state and local public health departments for testing capacity, vaccine administration, surveillance, and epidemiology studies for mpox; and

3. $250 million for community health centers, Ryan White and STI clinics and providers on the front lines of mpox to replenish supplies, alleviate staffing shortages, and restore capacity.

As of December 2, the CDC have reported 29,630 confirmed cases of mpox and 19 deaths in the United States. The outbreak has primarily affected gay and bisexual men and transgender individuals who have sex with men. Although cases continue to fall, the virus is having a substantial impact on BIPOC communities and individuals living with HIV – a direct effect of ongoing systemic health care inequities.