Riverside County expands monkeypox vaccine eligibility to all men who have sex with men

More people in Riverside County will be able to receive the monkeypox vaccine now that the county's public health department has expanded eligibility criteria.

The county's vaccine eligibility now includes "gay, same-gender loving or bisexual men, or any men, gender diverse or transgender people who have sex (including chemsex) with men or transgender people," said Riverside County Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky.

This broadens eligibility "quite significantly," she added, which previously was limited to those who were exposed to the virus, engage in sex work, have had a bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the past three months or whose work puts them at higher risk of infection.

"It's no longer having to attest to certain behaviors, such as whether they're partaking in group sex or anonymous sex," Chevinsky said. "It gives the ability for people within that group to assess their risks, talk to their health care providers about their risk and get vaccinated."

Monkeypox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus. People usually become infected through close contact with skin lesions or bodily fluids of infected animals or humans (alive or dead), including droplets, or clothing and linens from an infected person. The virus can also be spread through sexual contact, but it is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection. The virus can infect anyone, but during the current U.S. outbreak, it has disproportionately affected men who have sex with men, a group that includes people who identify as gay, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary.

Chevinsky added that "the vast majority" of people who filled out the county's vaccine interest form — there have been more than 5,000 submissions — now qualify to get a shot too. People do not have to resubmit a form if they already filled one out, but it will be updated to reflect the new criteria. Chevinsky encourages all who want a vaccine but haven't submitted a form to do so.

The group expansion was possible because the county has additional vaccines on the way — 1,650 vials coming from the state and another 55 vials that San Bernardino County shared — and to better prepare for upcoming Pride events in the valley. Thousands of visitors are expected to attend Leather Pride, scheduled for Oct. 27 through 30, and Palm Springs Pride, set to take place Nov. 4 through 6.

"We want people to be protected prior to Pride. We want them to get their first dose, get their second dose and be protected," Chevinsky said. "You will see over the next coming weeks ramping up vaccine events, as well as our local providers expanding their capabilities to be able to vaccinate as many people as they can."

One of the county's larger vaccine opportunities will be held at Idyllwild's Pride Under the Pines event on Oct. 1. Walk-ins will be accepted, and first and second vaccine doses will be available. Information on how many vaccines will be available at the clinic was not available Friday as the county is still getting estimates on attendance numbers, Chevinsky said, but the goal is to "vaccinate as many people as we can."

People interested in learning about other upcoming monkeypox vaccine clinics and other updates can sign up for newsletters at https://www.rivcoph.org/mpx.

The Jynneos vaccine is a two-dose series administered four weeks apart. A new vaccine delivery method calls for administering one-fifth of a dose into the top layer of skin (an intradermal injection) rather than injecting a full dose into the fat layer under the skin.

Riverside County has received 7,359 vaccine vials and distributed 6,445. A total of 10,890 doses have been administered, which includes first and second shots. A majority of doses have been administered in the Coachella Valley, with 4,017 Palm Springs residents receiving at least one dose and another 1,254 in Cathedral City and 541 in Rancho Mirage.

Chevinsky said the county is also applying for additional vaccine doses through equity grants, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may also have quantities available for Pride-related events.

Additionally, in preparation for more people coming to the area for Pride events and the Coachella Valley's tourism season, Chevinsky encourages people to get their COVID-19 booster and flu vaccinations. However, if someone between the ages of 16 and 29 received a monkeypox vaccine, they should consider delaying their booster shot for 30 days due to potential risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). No delay is needed with the flu shot.

To find vaccine providers in the county, visit https://www.rivcoph.org/mpx/Vaccine-Locations

Cases are stable in county

Riverside County has reported 276 confirmed and probable monkeypox cases as of Friday, up by 20 from last week.

Palm Springs continues to lead the pack with 129 total cases — nearly as many cases as Sacramento County's 135, despite its more than 1 million residents — while Cathedral City has the second-highest total at 36. Other cities with cases include Riverside (23), Desert Hot Springs (15), Corona (11), Moreno Valley (eight), Palm Desert (seven), and Indio, Perris and Rancho Mirage (six each).

Cases have been stable in Riverside County, Chevinsky said, while it's been reported that cases have been declining in New York and globally. That "support(s) that these vaccines are really working, in addition to behavior changes the community is making too," the deputy public health officer said.

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic. 

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Riverside County expands monkeypox vaccine eligibility, more broadly includes men who have sex with men