The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has announced that eligibility for the monkeypox vaccine has expanded in Brooklyn, along with the four other boroughs in NYC.
MPV is a contagious disease spread primarily through sexual relations and is caused by the monkeypox virus. Symptoms include dermal sores and rashes. There is currently an outbreak of MPV in the city and other areas where the virus does not usually spread.
The City's decision in expanding the MPV vaccine eligibility for New Yorkers is based on the pre-exposure prophylaxis model.
The PrEP model is based on more preventative measures, where individuals who have not been exposed to the disease, but are at a higher risk of catching it, can receive medication or vaccination to prevent any possible spread from occurring.
As a result, NYC opened up 30,000 new MPV vaccination appointments on Oct. 6, at 4:00pm, under the new eligibility guidelines.
According to the NYC Health Department, the expanded eligibility guidelines will apply to the following individuals:
- People of any sexual orientation or gender identity who have or may have more than one or anonymous sex partners, or participate or may participate in group sex
- People of any sexual orientation or gender identity whose sex partners are eligible per the criteria above
- People who know or suspect they have been exposed to MPV in the last 14 days
- Anyone else who considers themselves to be at risk for MPV through sex or other intimate contact
To date, as of Oct. 2, there have been a total of 843 MPV cases in Brooklyn since the NYC outbreak occurred back in June. New York City has had 3,611 cases in the same time frame.
Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan says, by utilizing the PrEP model approach and expanding eligibility to more people, the City will be able to protect more New Yorkers from the spread of MPV.
“As a community working closely together, we have radically reversed the trajectory of this virus,” Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan said. “By introducing pre-exposure prophylaxis vaccination -- or reaching people who may be exposed in the future -- we will protect even more New Yorkers and continue to blunt this outbreak.”
In total, there are 11 different locations in Brooklyn offering the MPV vaccine. This includes The Brooklyn Hospital Center, LevelUP MD Urgent Care and more.
To find an MPV vaccination location near you, or to schedule an appointment, visit the NYC Vaccine Finder website.
For more information on MPV, click here.
