With More NYC Monkeypox Diagnoses, City Adds 5 More Vaccine Clinics-- 3 of Them in Bklyn

The Health Department today provided an update on the next round of monkeypox vaccine appointments and new vaccine clinics.

This week, the Department received approximately 32,000 doses of the JYNNEOS^TM vaccine. 23,000 new first dose appointments will go online on the City’s vaccine portal beginning Thursday, August 4 at 6:00pm. 

The remaining doses will be administered to those referred to vaccination from community partner organizations, health care providers, and reserved for close contacts of known cases.

The City will be adding 5 new vaccine clinics at:

• The Livonia (506 Livonia Avenue in Brooklyn)
• The Jefferson (1300 Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn)
• Long Island City (5-17 46^th Road in Queens)
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings (686 New York Avenue in Brooklyn)
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur (227 Madison Street in Manhattan)

The addition of these sites will more than double the City’s current capacity to administer monkeypox vaccine. The Department will also be adding a clinic at Times Square (136 W. 42^nd Street) in the coming weeks. 

The vaccine clinics at the Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic and the Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic already have appointments booked through the end of next week, so no new appointments will be added this week. Any monkeypox vaccine appointments already scheduled at these two sites will be honored.

Based on current NYC vaccination eligibility criteria, up to 150,000 New Yorkers may be at risk for monkeypox exposure.

About monkeypox

In the current outbreak, the monkeypox virus:

• Is spreading mainly during oral, anal and vaginal sex and other intimate contact such as rimming, hugging, kissing, biting, cuddling and massage
• Can spread through direct contact with a rash or sores of someone who has the virus; from coming into contact with clothing, bedding, towels or other items they have used; and from prolonged face-to-face contact
• Spreads when people have symptoms, but experts are still studying whether it spreads before symptoms start or after they end
• May spread through semen, saliva, feces (poop) and other body fluids – experts are still studying whether this is possible.

Symptoms

The most common symptom is a rash or sores that may look like pimples or blisters. The rash and sores may be all over the body or on certain parts, including around and inside the genitals, anus and mouth, and last for two to four weeks. The rash can be extremely itchy and painful and interfere with daily activities. Sores in the anus or urethra can make it hard to go to the bathroom. Some people also have flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, fever and fatigue. Complications from monkeypox infection include inflammation of the rectal lining (proctitis). Even after healing, people can have scarring in the areas where they had sores. We do not know if monkeypox causes long-term health problems. A person is contagious until all sores have healed, and a new layer of skin has formed, which can take two to four weeks.

Prevention and Care

While the current outbreak continues, the best way to protect yourself from monkeypox is to avoid sex and other intimate contact with multiple or anonymous partners. If you choose to have sex or other intimate contact, the following can help reduce your risk, even if you have been vaccinated:

• Reduce your number of partners, especially those you do not know or whose recent sexual history you do not know.
• Avoid sex parties, circuit parties and other spaces where people are having sex and other intimate contact with multiple people.
• Ask your partners whether they have monkeypox symptoms and about their recent sexual history. Remember, some people may not know they have monkeypox, especially if they have only mild symptoms or symptoms that may be confused with other conditions.
• Do not have sex or intimate contact with anyone who feels unwell, especially if they have a rash or sores or were recently exposed to monkeypox.
• If you choose to have sex or other intimate contact with someone while they are sick, cover all rashes and sores with clothing or sealed bandages. This may reduce spread from contact with the rash or sores, but other methods of transmission may still be possible.
• Since it may be possible the virus can be transmitted through semen, use latex condoms during sex.
• Do not share towels, clothing, fetish gear, sex toys or toothbrushes.
• Wash your hands, fetish gear and bedding. Sex toys should be washed after each use or sex act.

As more New Yorkers are diagnosed with monkeypox, it is crucial to seek care as soon as you notice a rash or sores. Call your health care provider immediately. If you do not have one, call 311 to get connected to an NYC Health + Hospitals location or to access H+H Virtual Express Care. You can also visit the NYC Health Map to find a provider near you. Care is available in NYC regardless of immigration status, insurance coverage or ability to pay.