Achieving Top National Mpox Vaccination Coverage for Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Rhode Island: The Critical Role of Community Engagement, Public Health Collaboration, and Health Equity.

Since 2022, mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) has emerged as a sexually-associated infection that disproportionately impacts gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Fortunately, the JYNNEOS vaccine, which was initially developed for smallpox, has demonstrated significant efficacy against mpox and was distributed across the United States. In January 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that Rhode Island ranked first among the 50 states for rates of full vaccination coverage (two doses) against mpox among people at increased risk including GBMSM, and second among the 50 states for rates of partial vaccination (single dose).1 The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), in partnership with other state agencies, clinicians, and community-based organizations, succeeded in rapid outbreak response focusing on community engagement and health equity to address the mpox epidemic.