More than 100 MPX vaccines distributed at SLO County Public Health clinic
MPX protection finally arrived to the Central Coast this week as San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department and the Gala Pride and Diversity Center in San Luis Obispo partnered to deliver a mobile vaccine clinic to eligible community members.
Public Health spokesperson Thomas Cuddy told The Tribune that 104 out of 150 available doses were administered at the Sept. 7 clinic, meaning about 46 doses remain for eligible community members.
“It was a huge success, and we are very proud that we were able to bring this to our community, knowing that MPX is a huge concern,” Gala Board President Gary Borjan wrote in an email. “It has been very difficult for the LGBTQ+ community to find this vaccination anywhere in the vicinity other than having to go to large cities such as Los Angeles or San Francisco.”
Borjan said Gala’s constituency were excited to see the Center activating its space again and making use of the back parking lot to deliver the vaccines.
Many of the LGBTQ+ community members that are among Gala’s constituency were encouraged by Public Health and Gala’s partnership to hold this event, Borjan said.
“It was a very positive response from our community,” he said.
The LGBTQ+ community has felt the stigma that comes from MPX’s association, as many men who have sex with men have been disproportionately impacted by the outbreak, Borjan said.
“It has been widely publicized that it is a ‘gay disease’ or an LGBTQ+ disease when in fact anyone can get MPX,” he said. “It is a disease transferred by touch, and it can simply be someone hugging, shaking hands, engaging in sexual activity. It knows no restraints as far as who it picks and chooses. The stigma felt very similar to past crises in the way that the community rallied around this being a ‘gay disease.’”
When administered intradermally, meaning under the skin, as it was during Wednesday’s mobile clinic, the MPX vaccine is part of a two-dose series.
Borjan said Gala is looking into partnering with Public Health to host a second vaccine clinic to help community members receive their second doses in October.
Data shows one case of MPX has been reported in San Luis Obispo County as of Thursday.
Learn more about MPX in San Luis Obispo County by visiting the county Public Health page at bit.ly/mpx-sloco.
