WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood is working with public health officials at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in responding to the monkeypox outbreak.
LA County Public Health has announced that it will operate a by appointment only Monkeypox Vaccination Pop-Up Clinic with its pharmacy partner at West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room starting on Wednesday, August 3, 2022.
The Vaccination Pop-Up Clinic will take place for approximately six weeks on weekdays, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, which is adjacent to West Hollywood Park, located at 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
The Monkeypox Vaccination Pop-Up Clinic will be:
- Free and by appointment only. People who meet updated vaccine eligibility criteria, as listed on the LA County Public Health website must pre-register by visiting ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypoxsignup. When it is the registrant’s turn, Public Health will send a text message with instructions for how to book an appointment at the West Hollywood Monkeypox Vaccination Pop-Up Clinic through Public Health’s pharmacy partner. Once an appointment is made, the pharmacy will email registrants with follow-up information. Evidence of that information will need to be brought to the vaccination site in order to receive a vaccination. All details about eligibility are provided on the LA County Public Health website at ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypox.
- Only for people 18+. Participants must meet current vaccine eligibility criteria; all eligibility information is posted at ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypox.
- Limited to available vaccine supplies. The JYNNEOS vaccine remains in limited supply and LA County Public Health officials have noted that additional supply is anticipated to be made available from federal public health officials in the coming weeks. Appointments are limited and subject to vaccine availability. Details are subject to change. Appointment registration may temporarily close as supplies are exhausted; community members are advised to continue to check the registration site for openings and sign up for the LA County Public Health newsletter to be notified about registration openings.
- Offering doses of COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer), as well.
The LA County Public Health Monkeypox Vaccination Pop-Up Clinic is anticipated to run for approximately six weeks, with open dates as follows: August 3-5; August 8-12; August 15-19; August 22-26; and August 29-September 2, 2022. This schedule may change. The JYNNEOS vaccine is administered in two doses. According to LA County Public Health, as soon as federal vaccine supply expands, it will make second doses available to those who received their initial dose.
On Monday, August 1, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency to bolster the state’s vaccination efforts. The proclamation supports the work underway by the California Department of Public Health to coordinate a whole-of-government response to monkeypox, seek additional vaccines, and lead outreach and education efforts on accessing vaccines and treatment.
Early data suggests that gay men, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) comprise a high number of cases of monkeypox virus in this current outbreak. Anyone, however, in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk. Currently, there are approximately 423 confirmed cases in LA County.
According to Public Health officials, signs of infection may include: fever and headaches; swollen lymph nodes; muscle aches; and rash, bumps, or blisters, which may be limited to one part of the body. LA County Public Health has prepared a variety of health education resources, including flyers and handouts, such as: Pamphlet; Flyer; Signage; Pocketcard; and Intimate Contact Handout.
LA County Public Health reminds community members: if you think you have monkeypox, first speak to your primary care provider. If you do not have a regular provider, call 2-1-1 for assistance. In addition, people who have developed a rash can access services at LA County Public Health’s Sexual Health Clinics.
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Editor’s Note: The Los Angeles Blade and the City of West Hollywood co-sponsored a Monkeypox Town Hall featuring a panel of public health experts on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. Archived video of the discussion is available on the City’s WeHoTV YouTube channel.
