Concerns are mounting that the demand may far exceed the available supply as the United States begins a vaccine campaign.

The only vaccine for monkeypox is made by a small company. The company can produce less than five million more for the rest of the world than it can send to the US.

Since last August, the manufacturing facility has been closed for an expansion. Additional vaccine manufactured at the facility may not be available for at least six months after the facility reopens.

The need for vaccines is uncertain because of the patchy testing of the monkeypox outbreak.

She said that the current supply isn't enough to protect everyone.

The United States is the only country that won't need to share its available monkeypox vaccine until early in the next decade.

The chief executive said that the company has a small inventory of finished products. He said that the company has been able to fulfill all of its orders.

Several countries have begun to immunize close contacts of patients and anyone else at high risk.

The advocacy group Public Citizen has a researcher who studies access to medicines. Everyone who needs the vaccine needs it right now.

He warned that monkeypox could become entrenched in several countries if the number of cases continues to increase.

There are at least 5,000 cases under investigation. There have been more cases in Europe in the last two weeks. The United States has identified 400 monkeypox cases, but the actual number is believed to be much higher.

Men who have sex with men have been most affected. There are six million men who have sex with men in the US.

Federal officials expect to get another 300,000 doses of the vaccine in the next few weeks.

An additional 1.1 million doses have been manufactured for the US, but the FDA must inspect them and sign off before they can be released.

A spokeswoman wouldn't say how long the review would take.

The United States had previously purchased vaccine that could be finished and used to make up to 15 million doses, which would take five months.

The first 500,000 of that stock will be delivered by the end of the year.

It usually takes at least four to six months for other manufacturers to produce more doses of the drug.

ImageA Bavarian Nordic laboratory near Munich. A main manufacturing facility has been closed for months.
A Bavarian Nordic laboratory near Munich. A main manufacturing facility has been closed for months. Credit...Lukas Barth/Reuters
A Bavarian Nordic laboratory near Munich. A main manufacturing facility has been closed for months.

The situation will leave the United States with about two million doses by the end of the year, but may hamper the response in other countries.

In the event of a bioterrorist attack, the United States aided the development of Jynneos, a safer alternative to older vaccines. Jynneos is a crucial tool in the fight to contain monkeypox.

The ACAM2000 vaccine is similar to the one used to eradicate smallpox and is likely to be effective against monkeypox as well. The vaccine can be fatal in people with certain diseases.

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Monkeypox is what it is. In parts of Central and West Africa, there is a disease called monkeypox. It is not as bad as smallpox. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was discovered in the 50's.

The symptoms are what they are. People who have been bitten by the Monkeypox will have a rash that starts with red marks and grows into a large lump of flesh. Symptoms can take as long as three weeks after exposure to show and can last as long as four weeks. Vaccines and other treatments can be used to stop an outbreak.

What is it that makes it infectious? Some experts think that the virus could occasionally be airborne. It has spread in unusual ways this year and among populations that have not been at risk in the past.

Mr. Rizvi said, "I want to underscore the absurdity of relying on one manufacturer to be the global supplier for a vaccine that is needed to curb outbreak." We're back in this situation because it's so stupid.

Government-owned manufacturing facilities should be used to make vaccine quickly during an outbreak. A senior administration official with knowledge of the discussions said that plans for such a facility are being considered.

The limited supply of Jynneos in the United States over the next few weeks may mean that people in big cities will be able to get the shots, while those in small rural counties will have to use ACAM2000.

She said that they would like to see everyone get the vaccine.

100,000 doses of Jynneos have been requested by the World Health Organization. A senior administration official with knowledge of the negotiations said that the Biden administration was considering the request and was waiting for more information.

The United States has the most power in the world to shape the course of the epidemic. Global cooperation is needed to make sure the doses get to where they are needed the most.