Estimated Monkeypox Susceptible MSM Population in North Carolina

Using NHANES survey data we estimate that there are nearly 65,100 North Carolina residents who identify as men who have sex with men (MSM). Among those men, it is estimated nearly 15,700 have had at least one new sexual partner in the last year and represent the highest risk for infection and onward transmission of monkeypox. Vaccination strategies should consider vaccinating with highest priority those who are highly sexually active men who have sex with men as these sexual networks have the capacity to drive the monkeypox epidemic. Estimates of the number of MSM by county as well as the estimates of highly sexually active MSM are provided by North Carolina county in order to inform vaccination quantities and priorities given the current limited supply of vaccines.