Allegheny County expands eligibility for monkeypox vaccine

The monkeypox vaccine is now available to a wider swath of people in Allegheny County as health officials work to get the prophylaxis to those most at risk of coming into contact with the virus.

In addition to those already eligible for the vaccine, which can prevent illness if received within four days of exposure, the following groups can also get the vaccine:

• Men who have sex with men and who also have multiple or anonymous sex partners.
• Women who have sex with men who have sex with men and who also have multiple or anonymous partners.
• Transgender, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary individuals who have multiple or anonymous partners.

“After working with the department of health and assessing the needs of our community, we believe we have enough vaccine and a need to expand eligibility,” said Dr. Barbara Nightingale, the Allegheny County Health Department’s deputy of clinical services.

The vaccine remains available to those in the first group given priority access: those who have experienced a high-risk exposure to someone diagnosed with monkeypox in the past two weeks and those who had a high likelihood of an exposure in the previous two weeks.

Sex workers can also receive the vaccine, the county said.

The virus, part of the orthopoxvirus family, is similar to smallpox, but it is usually mild and often causes no symptoms, according to the state Department of Health.

Those who experience symptoms could have a fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and general discomfort and exhaustion. Within days of the onset of the fever, patients can develop lesions. Some get a rash and then lesions, while others develop a rash only.

According to the state agency, although the virus does not spread easily from person to person, it can be transmitted through prolonged face-to-face contact, intimate contact or touching linens or clothing touched by an infected individual.

The department notes: “While many of those affected in the current outbreaks are gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men, anyone who has been in contact with someone who has monkeypox can get the illness.”

Since late June, 59 people in Allegheny County have contracted the monkeypox virus, 11 of whom were diagnosed in the past two weeks.

Eligible individuals can make an appointment with the county’s immunization clinic, but walk-ins are also welcome. The clinic is on the fourth floor of the Hartley-Rose Building at 435 First Ave. in Downtown Pittsburgh. The entrance is on Cherry Way. The clinic is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each weekday, except for Thursdays when it is open until 7 p.m.

The following community health providers also offer the vaccine.

• Central Outreach Wellness Center,127 Anderson St., Suite 101, Pittsburgh.
• Allies for Health + Wellbeing, 5913 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh.
• Metro Community Health Center, 1789 S. Braddock Ave. #410, Pittsburgh.
• AHN Positive Health Clinic (only vaccinating current patients), 1307 Federal St., Pittsburgh.
• UPMC Center for Care for Infectious Diseases, 3601 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh.