NYC expands monkeypox vaccine clinics
NEW YORK - New York City is doubling the capacity to administer monkeypox vaccine shots as five new vaccine clinics are opening. The city also announced that it plans to open a clinic in the heart of Times Square in Manhattan.
The move comes as the federal government declared a public health emergency to bolster the response to the monkeypox outbreak.
Based on current NYC vaccination eligibility criteria, up to 150,000 New Yorkers may be at risk for monkeypox exposure.
Where to get monkeypox vaccine in NYC?
The 5 new NYC monkeypox vaccine clinics are located at:
• The Livonia (506 Livonia Avenue in Brooklyn)
• The Jefferson (1300 Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn)
• Long Island City (5-17 46th Road in Queens)
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings (686 New York Avenue in Brooklyn)
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur (227 Madison Street in Manhattan)
These are the other monkeypox vaccine clinics:
- Science Skills Center High School [weekend only] 49 Flatbush Avenue Ext. Brooklyn
- IS 125 [weekend only] 46-02 47 Avenue Queens
- Bronx High School of Science [weekend only] 75 W 205th Street Bronx
- Chelsea Clinic 303 Ninth Avenue Manhattan
- Central Harlem Clinic 2238 Fifth Avenue Manhattan
- Corona Clinic 34-33 Junction Boulevard Queens
- The Livonia Clinic 506 Livonia Avenue Brooklyn
- The Jefferson Clinic 1300 Flushing Avenue Brooklyn
- Long Island City Clinic 5-17 46th Road Queens
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt 165 Vanderbilt Avenue Staten Island
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur 227 Madison Street Manhattan
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County 686 New York Avenue, T Building entrance at Clarkson Ave. Brooklyn
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln 234 East 149th Street Bronx
The city health department says it continues to work with "trusted community partners," health care facilities, and those that operate congregate settings to ensure that people at the highest risk have access to the vaccine.
79,000 doses have been received by New York City out of the approximately 131,000 doses that have been allocated to the city.
RELATED: Sen. Gillibrand calls on White House to use its power to ramp up Monkeypox vax production
More than 30,000 doses have already been administered in NYC so far, with an additional 7,000 doses already scheduled for the coming days.
23,000 new appointments went online Thursday and were gone in less than an hour. The remainder of the doses have been set aside for close contacts of known cases and for private health care providers and referrals from community partner organizations.
The full vaccination course is two doses. New York City, however, is currently prioritizing first doses in an effort to protect as many members of the community as possible, as quickly as possible.
How is monkeypox spread?
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.
RELATED: Monkeypox a 'State Disaster Emergency': Gov. Hochul
Monkeypox 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.
A person is contagious until all sores have healed, and a new layer of skin has formed, which can take two to four weeks.
It is not known if there are long-term health problems associated with monkeypox.