The Beauregard Parish Health Unit in DeRidder will be offering the JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, according to regional health unit officials.

Louisiana Department of Health regional administrator Pam Boswell said the Beauregard Health Unit will have ample supplies for local community members who meet the criteria for the vaccine.

The LDH identified its first case of monkeypox in a Louisiana resident on July 7, and it has been closely monitoring cases across the state.

As of this week, there have been 198 infections diagnosed in Louisiana, according to the LDH, with five new infections recently reported.

So far, there have not been any cases identified in the Southwest Louisiana area.

Officials say they believe there are more undiagnosed cases in the state than have been formally tested and identified, and urge those eligible for the vaccine to receive it.

The most recent criteria for eligibility for the two-part vaccine can be found on the LDH website at ldh.la.gov.