Home Contra Costa County Contra Costa Expands Monkeypox Vaccine Eligibility to all LGBTQ Men

Contra Costa Expands Monkeypox Vaccine Eligibility to all LGBTQ Men

Press Release

by ECT
Contra Costa Health Services

Starting today, Contra Costa County will provide monkeypox (MPX) vaccine at County-run vaccination sites to all LGBTQ men and men who have sex with men.

Previously, first doses of Jynneos vaccine were available only to people who had contact with a known MPX case, sex workers or LGBTQ men who had more than one sexual partner in the last 14 days. While anyone can get MPX, not everyone is at equal risk. During the current global outbreak, cases have been overwhelmingly among LGBTQ men and men who have sex with men.

“After months of MPX vaccine being scarce, we now have enough supply to vaccinate more people and provide more protection in the community,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, health officer for Contra Costa County. “Vaccines offer excellent protection against MPX and help reduce spread of the virus.”

The County also recently expanded eligibility for second doses of Jynneos vaccine to anyone who has already received their first dose rather than reserving them only for immunocompromised people.

The Jynneos vaccine can be given preventatively in advance of an exposure or within 4-5 days after an exposure. Once symptoms start, it’s too late and the vaccine won’t work.

To date, Contra Costa Health (CCH) has administered more than 3,700 doses of MPX vaccine since the start of the outbreak at its Richmond and Concord vaccine clinics, as well as several pop-up clinics held with community partners.

There are now nearly 3,900 confirmed or probable cases of MPX in California, more than three months after the first case was identified in the state in May. Contra Costa has recorded 72 confirmed or probable cases. MPX cases recently appear to have plateaued, although this could change.

MPX spreads primarily through skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact, with an infected rash. Symptoms start within 14 days of an exposure. People often experience flulike symptoms followed by the virus’ trademark rash, which can look like blisters, pimples or herpes warts. The rash can be very painful. Infected people are contagious from the time symptoms appear until all symptoms have resolved and the rash is fully healed. This process can take 2-4 weeks.

Most people recover at home, although there have been some hospitalizations in the state, often for pain management. So far, no one has died in California from MPX during the current outbreak.

To schedule a vaccination appointment at a County site (see location details below), visit MPX Vaccine Scheduling (cchealth.org) or by calling us at 833-829-2626. Our sites will accept walk-ins as capacity allows.

For more information about MPX, please visit our website at cchealth.org/mpx.

 

MPX Vaccine Clinic Locations & Hours

Richmond Auditorium

403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond

HOURS:

Tues – Sat, 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.

 

Concord – Monument

1034 Oak Grove Rd., Concord

HOURS:

Tues: 12 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Wed – Sat: 8 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.

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