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Health Aug 18, 2022
| Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Preregistration for the monkeypox vaccine in Long Beach will transition to the state’s MyTurn system beginning Friday, the city’s Department of Health and Human Services announced.
Appointments had previously been scheduled through the city’s own preregistration system, which will close at the end of the day on Thursday.
“We know the MyTurn system, which we used during the pandemic, will help bring even more efficiency to our efforts of vaccine access and distribution,” Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement.
More than 3,800 people have signed up through the city, which has administered more than 2,500 doses to date. All eligible people have been contacted to schedule an appointment, according to the city.
Long Beach has seen 50 confirmed and probable monkeypox cases as of Thursday, with one hospitalization.
Monkeypox is generally spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting from infectious rashes and scabs, though respiratory secretions and bodily fluids exchanged during extended physical episodes, such as sexual intercourse, can also lead to transmission, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. It can also be transmitted through the sharing of items such as bedding and towels.
Symptoms include fresh pimples, blisters, rashes, fever and fatigue. There is no specific treatment. People who have been infected with smallpox, or have been vaccinated for it, may have immunity to monkeypox.
According to health officials, the monkeypox vaccine can prevent infection if given before or shortly after exposure to the virus.
Visit myturn.ca.gov to access the state’s MyTurn system.
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