San Diego County received 1,550 vaccine doses this week to combat Monkeypox as cases continue to rise in the region.
County health officials say all doses will be distributed this week. The county identified 98 confirmed and probable cases as of Aug. 7, and all were males.
The monkeypox vaccine is a two-dose series administered 28 days apart. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with confirmed exposure to others with monkeypox or persons with immunocompromising conditions are recommended to receive a dose.
Due to the low supply of the vaccine, the County is presently recommending that first doses be administered to as many eligible people as possible. Health officials say that one dose of the vaccine is 80 percent effective.
Doses are available at federally qualified health centers and clinics by appointment only, including:
- UC San Diego – Owen Clinic (200 doses)
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation Healthcare Center San Diego (200 doses)
- Vista Community Clinic (200 doses)
- San Ysidro Health Center (150 doses)
- Family Health Centers of San Diego (100 doses)
- The County Public Health Centers (300 doses).
As of Monday, the county received a total of 5,047 doses of the Monkeypox Vaccine. About 3,401 have been distributed, and 2,322 are in the arms of San Diegans.
Monkeypox is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting from infectious rashes and scabs, though respiratory secretions and bodily fluids exchanged during extended physical episodes, such as sexual intercourse, can also lead to transmission, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms include fresh pimples, blisters, rashes, fever, and fatigue. There is no specific treatment.
