The Tompkins County Health Deparment (TCHD) is announcing a 1st and 2nd dose Monkeypox Vaccine Clinic to be held this Thursday, September 22nd from 1pm-4pm at the TCHD (55 Brown Road, Ithaca).
Appointments are required. Eligible individuals can register online for an appointment or dial 2-1-1 (1-877-211-8667) for assistance registering.
- September 22, 1pm-4pm: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health/monkeypox#mpxclinics
The vaccine is free of cost and is available for those at high risk of infection who meet the following criteria, as determined by New York State Department of Health:
- Any individual that may be at risk of future exposure to infection with monkeypox, even though they are not at high risk of a recent exposure to monkeypox.
- Individuals with recent exposure to a suspected or confirmed monkeypox case within the past 14 days.
- Those at high risk of a recent exposure to monkeypox, including gay men and members of the bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming community and other communities of men who have sex with men and who have engaged in intimate or skin-to-skin contact with others in the past 14 days.
- Individuals who have had skin-to-skin contact with someone in a social network experiencing monkeypox activity, including men who have sex with men who meet partners through an online website, digital application ("app"), or social event, such as a bar or party.
JYNNEOS is a vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a two-dose series for the prevention of monkeypox among adults ages 18 years and older. If given before exposure or within 4 days of exposure, this vaccine may reduce the likelihood of infection. Within 14 days of exposure, it may reduce severity of symptoms. The two vaccine doses are given four weeks apart, and individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose.
People who get vaccinated should continue to take steps to protect themselves from infection by avoiding close, skin-to-skin contact, including intimate contact, with someone who has monkeypox.
TCHD has been monitoring monkeypox cases locally; as of September 19, 2022, there have been 3 reported cases in county residents.