Reverend Dr. W. Franklin Richardson of Grace Baptist in Mount Vernon is sounding the alarm on the disproportionate number of Black and Hispanic people getting monkeypox.

"Monkeypox is to be taken seriously,” he said. “We can’t downplay it.”

He says just as with coronavirus, monkeypox cases seem to be disproportionately affecting Hispanic and Black communities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says of the 88% of cases with available data – 41% were among white, 28% Hispanic and 26% Black.

The reverend believes everyone should be vaccinated, but doctors think otherwise.

Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Jason Zucker says there's a limited number of vaccines available, so those at the highest risk are the priority.