The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has expanded the eligibility of people who can access monkeypox vaccines.
The groups that will now be prioritized will be all gay, bisexual men and transgender people who have had multiple sexual partners in the last 14 days or have had very close contact at large events for the same period of time.
The measure also welcomes all people,
regardless of their sexual identity, who have had a sexual exchange for commercial purposes in the last two weeks.
A medical worker administers a dose of monkeypox vaccine at a monkeypox vaccination center in Los Angeles, California, United States, on August 11, 2022.Getty Images
Finally, people who are immunosuppressed or diagnosed with HIV will also be a priority.
The number of monkeypox cases has doubled in Los Angeles County in recent weeks.
On Friday, 1,105 infections were reported, which put the authorities on alert.
[About 39% of monkeypox infections in California occur among Latinos]
Nearly half of those infected in Los Angeles,
46%, are between the ages of 30 and 39
.
Of the rest, 23% are between 18 and 29 and 21% between 40 and 49. While 98% are men and 82% identify as LGBQ+, according to official data.
These statistics bring together cases from a jail and homeless shelters, according to the Los Angeles Times.
More than 14,000 cases: Monkeypox continues to spread in the US
Aug. 21, 202201:52
The Department of Health also asked people who were already eligible and had received the first dose to register or schedule an appointment for the second vaccine, if 28 days have not passed.
Those who want to access the vaccine can access the website of the Los Angeles County Department of Health by clicking here.
