Monkeypox Vaccine Appointments Fill Up In 2 Hours After Going Live

FIRE ISLAND, NY — Only two hours after becoming available, all monkeypox vaccine appointments at Suffolk County clinics have been filled, the Suffolk County Health Department confirmed with Patch.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced on Monday that appointments were for the vaccine at several different pop-up clinics on Fire Island.

The clinics, which will be hosted in partnership with Northwell Health, will open on Thursday in Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines, for individuals eligible to receive the vaccine.

The department told Patch that eligible residents who have yet to book an appointment can call Suffolk 311 to provide their contact information, and they will be alerted once more doses and time slots become available.

“While Suffolk County has a handful of confirmed monkeypox cases, I want to reiterate that this is not cause for alarm or panic,” said Bellone. “This week, working with our partners at Northwell Health, we will begin to administer the vaccine to help reduce the chance and severity of infection in those who have been exposed, with the goal of containing the spread. As vaccine production ramps up, we will expand our operations to ensure that anyone who wants to get vaccinated is able to.”

To receive the monkeypox vaccine, state eligibility requirements include:

• Individuals with recent exposure to monkeypox within the past 14 days.
• Those at high risk of a recent exposure to monkeypox, including members of the gay, 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 in 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 (“app”), or social event, such as a bar or party.

The pop-up clinics, dates, and locations include:

Cherry Grove

Thursday, July 14

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Northwell Health Physician Partners at Cherry Grove
153 Doctors Walk
Cherry Grove, NY

Friday, July 15

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Northwell Health Physician Partners at Cherry Grove
153 Doctors Walk
Cherry Grove, NY

Saturday, July 16

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Northwell Health Physician Partners at Cherry Grove
153 Doctors Walk
Cherry Grove, NY

Sunday, July 17

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Northwell Health Physician Partners at Cherry Grove
153 Doctors Walk

Cherry Grove, NY

Fire Island Pines

Friday, July 15

12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Fire Island Pines Community House/ Whyte Hall
577 Fire Island Blvd

Sayville, NY

Saturday, July 16

10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fire Island Pines Community House/ Whyte Hall
577 Fire Island Blvd

Sayville, NY

The first case of monkeypox in Suffolk was reported on July 1, with two additional cases reported on Thursday for a total of three.

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 the county. 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.

To schedule an appointment for a monkeypox vaccine, click here.