LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Eliseo Ceja,

LAREDO, Texas – The City of Laredo Health Department Monkeypox prevention initiative has begun with the arrival of the JYNNEOS vaccine.

With the limited availability of the vaccine, while anyone can get Monkeypox, Laredo Health will prioritize people who live in settings that put them at higher risk of becoming infected or exposed to Monkeypox, including:

Members of the LGBTQ+ community

Individuals who have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) within the last three months
Individuals living with HIV
Those who have traveled to an outbreak area
Those who have had multiple or anonymous sex partners within the previous 21 days
These individuals will be able to receive the JYNNEOS vaccine.

For more information about the Healthy Living/Viviendo Mejor program, as well as other sites for classes, please contact Fabiola Guerra, Project Coordinator at the City of Laredo Health Department at (956) 721-4994.

The Laredo Health Department will collaborate with doctors in the community who serve individuals who are at increased risk to enable access to their patients. The availability of these vaccines is still scarce, and criteria must be met before an individual can receive the vaccine while supplies last.

If someone believes they meet the criteria, we ask them to reach out to the LETS Program at 956-795-4905.

JYNNEOS availability:

440 doses (2 doses regimen) for 220 individuals identified as a member of an at-risk group
200 doses (2 doses regimen) reserved for 100 individuals who have been in close contact with someone confirmed with monkeypox OR are part of other populations at highest risk of monkeypox exposure, as identified through local epidemiological investigations; outbreak situation.
This guidance is subject to change to reflect the current status of the response, future allocations of additional vaccine doses, and other advice from the CDC.

The Laredo Health Department would like to remind the community of the very limited supply of vaccines and inform that additional doses are expected to arrive in November 2022.

Here are some preventive measures to avoid contacting Monkeypox:

Avoid direct contact with those suspected of Monkeypox or those who have visibly new or unknown rashes or lesions.

Avoid contact with possibly contaminated surfaces or objects that a person with monkeypox has used.
Practice proper hygiene and wash your hands often.