Monkeypox vaccine eligibility expanded

Vaccines available at PRIDE parade and festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 5, 2022

LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada Health District has expanded eligibility for the monkeypox vaccine to additional individuals who are at risk for exposure. Current eligibility to receive the vaccine includes:

Those who had close physical contact within the past 14 days with someone known or suspected of having monkeypox. This includes:
- Those who know or suspect their sexual partner(s) of having monkeypox.
- Those who live in the same household as someone they know or suspect of having monkeypox.
Those who have been informed by the Health District they are a close contact of someone with monkeypox.
Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, and transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender non-binary individuals who:
- Have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 12 months.
- Have HIV or a history of a sexually transmitted infection in the last 12 months.
Those who are any gender identity or sexual orientation who:
- Are sex workers.
- Had sex at a commercial sex venue or in association with a large public event.
Those who are any gender identity or sexual orientation who:
- Are a sex partner of anyone in the currently eligible groups.
- Anticipates experiencing any of the identified risks.

Those who have received their first dose of the vaccine are eligible for the second dose, even if they do not meet any of the current criteria.

Pride Parade and Festival

The Health District and Huntridge Family Clinic will be offering monkeypox clinics at PRIDE events this year. Health District staff will offer the vaccine on Friday, October 7, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the PRIDE Parade. The Health District’s mobile clinic will be located at Carson and 4th Street. The Huntridge Family Clinic staff will be at the PRIDE Festival on Saturday, October 8, from noon to 7 p.m. offering the vaccine. You can find their clinic location using the following QR code:

Additional monkeypox clinic location information is available at www.snhd.info/monkeypox and appointments are available at https://vax4nv.nv.gov/s/vaccine-type. Second dose of the monkeypox vaccine are available on a walk-in basis. The Health District will also be offering COVID-19 vaccines, including updated COVID-19 boosters, at the PRIDE Festival on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

As of October 5, 6,589 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine have been administered in Clark County. There have been 251 probable and confirmed cases reported. The monkeypox vaccine is a two-dose series, and the Health District is encouraging everyone who is eligible to get fully vaccinated to get the best protection.

While current data show that gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men make up the majority of current reported cases of monkeypox, the Health District reminds the public that anyone can get monkeypox, which is primarily spread through close, physical contact between people. A person with monkeypox can spread the virus to others from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness will typically last two to four weeks.

People can protect themselves from monkeypox by avoiding close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox, contact with objects and materials that person with monkeypox has used and washing their hands often. Additional prevention information is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Up to date information is also available on the Health District website at www.SNHD.info/monkeypox.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.