New York City opened three pop-up clinics on Sunday at Aviation High School in Queens, Bushwick Education in Brooklyn, and Bronx High School of Science as it continues to hone its immunization program.
Health Care Provider and Patient
New York City Monkeypox Cases and Vaccine Supplies
As of today, the number of confirmed cases of monkeypox in New York City approaches 500. The city is now regarded as the outbreak's epicenter in the country. As testing intensifies, the health commissioner anticipates a significant increase in the number.
Health commissioner Ashwin Vasan expressed frustration after visiting the Bushwick clinic, saying, "As soon as I know, then I can prepare, right? It's really hard to plan in an environment of low supply and limited supply."
Despite the frustration, Vasan was optimistic that they should be receiving more supplies, which would allow the vaccination sites to continue operating.
According to CBS2's Tony Aiello, the federal government's supply of the monkeypox vaccination is far insufficient to meet local demand. Yet, according to the Health Department, more doses from the federal government are anticipated this week. Through referrals from community partner organizations that cater to high-risk patients, some 4,000 extra doses will be made available.
The vaccination site has vaccinated 4,200 New Yorkers at its three pop-up clinics. Monitors kept the long line moving outside Queens' Aviation High School.
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New York City Vaccination Schedule and Administration
Appointments could be difficult to schedule. Thousands of new appointments were available and 9, 200 were promptly booked when the vaccine became available Friday night. For only seven minutes, they were all filled, CBS News reported.
An individual from Manhattan, Joe Kadlec, believed he could receive a shot in Brooklyn without an appointment. He arrived at the location at 4:00 a.m. but was told it was only for people with appointments.
The city is not withholding any dosages for the second shot to provide at least some protection to as many New Yorkers as possible. The second dosage is typically given 28 days following the first shot.
It was reported that at around 6:00 p.m., the website was a little difficult to load, there were no local clinics that were open, and all available appointments had already been filled.
Chester Rhodes, a resident of Chelsea, said that the website kept crashing a week early. Then when the registration opened, there were no appointments available.
Although monkeypox hasn't caused any fatalities in the United States, it does have symptoms resembling smallpox, including fever, chills, muscle aches, and a severe rash that can cause a patient's life to be disrupted for weeks. Yet, anxiety has grown among gay men in New York.
Gay men who have several sex partners or are known to have been exposed are considered to be at high risk and are advised to watch out for the uncomfortable, rash-like sickness. In a report in USA Today, LGBTQ leaders were demanding more testing kits and vaccines. They were also requesting additional health workers to limit the outbreak.
Dr. Annabella Salvador of Northwell Health said that a patient would experience malaise, joint pain, and pain, and generally, a rash would follow. She said the lesions might be quite painful, especially in the genital area or the mouth.
RELATED ARTICLE: Monkeypox Conspiracy Theories Debunked: 3 Horrifying Assumptions About the Disease That Are False
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