Nassau Launches Monkeypox Vaccine Portal

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Nassau County has launched a new web portal to help residents make appointments to receive a vaccine for the monkeypox virus.

Nassau University Medical Center and Northwell Health have received limited quantities of the monkeypox vaccine, and are offering appointments for residents to get vaccinated. You can find out more info about how to make an appointment by clicking here.

Appointments are available at a Northwell vaccination site in New Hyde Park on July 25 and 29, and by appointment at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.

“While this is a small step in the right direction, it is no substitute for the type of direct outreach that is necessary to reach the communities that have been most impacted by the spread of monkeypox,” said Nassau County Legislators Arnold Drucker and Debra Mulé said. “It is long past time for Nassau County to join forces with trusted leaders in the LGBTQ+ community for the purpose of beginning an aggressive public information campaign that will raise awareness, calm fears and combat stigma associated with this pressing public health concern.”

As of July 22, New York State Department of Health statistics show that New York State has 900 confirmed case of monkeypox, with 5 of those in Nassau County, 13 in Suffolk County, and the majority (839) in New York City.

Monkeypox can spread from person-to-person most often through direct and prolonged contact with the infectious rash, scabs, body fluids, or respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex, according to health officials. It may also spread by touching items, such as clothing or linens with infectious body fluids. Pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta.

Recent monkeypox cases in the region have involved a rash that is often in the genital and peri-anal regions and may include other symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and pain when swallowing, before or after the rash appears. Most infections last two to four weeks, and are very rarely fatal.

People are eligible to get a monkeypox vaccine are:

• 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 areas where monkeypox is spreading.
• 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, or social event, such as a bar or party.