Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

An electron microscopic image depicting a mpox virion.

The number of monkeypox cases has risen as the demand for a vaccine to treat the virus has grown. Arizona Public Health Association Executive Director Will Humble said vaccine distribution is an issue because of short supply.

“When you have a limited supply, you have to focus your resources in a really targeted way," Humble said. "And, wisely, the county health departments are doing that now with direct contacts of the known monkeypox cases.” 

Humble said Arizona’s current supply is a little more than 1,000 doses that county health departments have to ration.