Exactly one year ago today (August 22, 2022), Los Angeles County took another step to combat the monkeypox outbreak by expanding the eligibility criteria for the monkeypox vaccine. However, the supply of doses remains limited.
According to the county Department of Public Health, the vaccine is now available to gay or bisexual men and transgender individuals who have had skin-to-skin intimate contact with people at large venues or events within the past 14 days. Additionally, people of any gender or sexual orientation who engaged in commercial and/or transactional sex in the past 14 days are also newly eligible. This includes individuals who exchanged sexual activity for money, shelter, food, or other provisions.
Previously, the shots were mainly available to gay or bisexual men or transgender individuals with multiple or anonymous sexual partners in the past 14 days.
The county is also maintaining eligibility for individuals who qualified under the previous criteria. This includes people who had high- or immediate-risk contact with a known monkeypox patient confirmed by the Department of Public Health, as well as individuals who attended an event or visited a venue with a high risk of exposure to a confirmed case.
The shots are also available to gay and bisexual men and transgender individuals diagnosed with rectal gonorrhea or early syphilis within the past year. Additionally, individuals who are on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or who attended or worked at a commercial sex venue or other venue where they had anonymous or multiple partner sex within the past 21 days are eligible for the vaccine.
Residents who meet the eligibility criteria can register online at ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypoxsignup to receive alerts when vaccine doses become available.
The county is administering second doses of the two-shot monkeypox vaccine using the recently approved intradermal injection method, which has increased the availability of shots by five-fold. However, it is important to note that supplies are still limited.
As of Monday, the county has reported a total of 1,209 confirmed or probable cases of monkeypox, including cases in Long Beach and Pasadena. Almost all of the cases are in men, with the majority being gay or bisexual individuals.
Monkeypox is primarily transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting from infectious rashes and scabs. However, respiratory secretions and bodily fluids exchanged during extended physical episodes, such as sexual intercourse, can also lead to transmission. It can even be transmitted through the sharing of items like bedding and towels.
Symptoms of monkeypox include the presence of fresh pimples, blisters, rashes, fever, and fatigue. At present, there is no specific treatment for the disease. It’s worth noting that individuals who have previously contracted smallpox or have been vaccinated for it may have some level of immunity to monkeypox.
Health officials state that the vaccine can prevent infection if administered before or shortly after exposure to the virus.
For more information on monkeypox and the vaccine, please visit ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypox.
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