OC Nonprofit Hosts First Monkeypox Vaccine Clinic In County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — As monkeypox cases continue to rise across the country, Families Together of Orange County announced that it will be the first and only community health center in Orange County to offer vaccinations against monkeypox.

On Tuesday, the nonprofit will host a monkeypox vaccine clinic where existing Families Together of OC patients and Orange County residents can receive the first dose of the Jynneos vaccine.

According to a news release, the vaccine is to be administered in two doses given 28 days apart.

“Families Together has always rushed to the frontlines whenever the community needed us most. During the pandemic, we became one of the first to offer testing, and with the rollout of vaccines we became the only community health center to sit within the top 10 vaccine administrators in the County," Families Together of OC CEO Alexander Rossel said in a statement. "Now, we are proud to be the first community health center in Orange County to offer this vaccine to our community, and we hope that our vaccine clinic is the first of many in the fight against monkeypox.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the Jynneos vaccine to people who have been exposed to monkeypox and people who may be likely to contract the virus.

Additionally, people who are aware that a sexual partner has been diagnosed with monkeypox in the past two weeks and people who have had multiple sexual partners in the past two weeks are encouraged to get vaccinated.

“Our patients are relying on us to protect them during this current monkeypox outbreak. We are seeing growing concerns amongst our high-risk patients, who are the most fearful right now," said Dr. Sue Reddy, Associate Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at Families Together. "The vaccines are coming at a critical time and we have an opportunity to change the trajectory of community spread.”

Residents interested in getting vaccinated against monkeypox must bring a valid photo ID and an insurance card to Tuesday's clinic. Vaccines will be administered on a first-come, first-serve basis, so residents are encouraged to arrive to the clinic early to ensure their dose.

Families Together of Orange County's monkeypox vaccine clinic takes place Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 150 N. Myrtle Ave., Tustin. For more information, residents can visit the nonprofit's website.