More Monkeypox Vaccine Appointments To Be Available In Suffolk County

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Almost 2,000 more monkeypox vaccines are to be distributed on Fire Island and in other locations across Suffolk County in the following week, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced on Wednesday.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, monkeypox vaccine appointments for the coming weekend will again be available at current Northwell Health clinics in Cherry Grove, located at 153 Doctors Walk, and The Pines, located at 577 Fire Island Blvd on Fire Island.

525 vaccines are intended to be distributed this weekend, Bellone said.

Vaccination appointments on Fire Island for next week will go live on Monday, July 25, and 400 vaccines will be available.

In addition, Stony Brook University Hampton Bays clinics, or "PODS" will also be available beginning Saturday, for Monday, July 25, Wednesday July 27 and Friday, July 29.

About 250 vaccines will be also available on Wednesday, July 27 Northwell Health Community Center in the Westfield Mall in Bay Shore.

According to the Center of Disease Control, five confirmed cases of monkeypox have been found in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and 679 cases have been confirmed in New York State.

The first roll out of monkeypox vaccines were distributed on Fire Island last week, and appointments filled up within two hours after going live.

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 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 learn more about the monkeypox vaccine, click here.