The Louisiana Department of Health is teaming with Pafford EMS to host Vax Up Northshore!, a community vaccination event set for this Tuesday (Aug. 30) to distribute monkeypox vaccines to high-risk individuals.
COVID-19 vaccines will also be available.
The event will be held from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Tangipahoa Parish Health Unit, at 15481 W. Club Deluxe Road, Hammond.
Criteria, as provided by LDH include: Gay, bisexual, other (cis or trans) men who have sex with men OR transgender women and nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have sex with men and:
- Have had intimate or sexual contact with multiple or anonymous partners in the last 14 days OR
- Have had intimate or sexual contact with other men in a social or sexual venue in the last 14 days OR
- Individuals (of any sex/gender identity) who have given or received money or other goods/services in exchange for sex in the last 14 days
- Individuals (of any sex/gender identity) who have been determined to be at high risk for monkeypox exposure by a healthcare provider or public health official.
If someone is planning to attend Southern Decadence, experiencing homelessness or has a substance use disorder they can receive the vaccine, no questions asked.
At present, this is the only scheduled community monkeypox vaccination event on the Northshore, although you can visit the LDH website to find locations of those in other parishes, as well as parish-by-parish information on community healthcare providers distributing the vaccine.
The ongoing outbreak of monkeypox was confirmed in May 2022, with the first Louisiana case reported July 7.
Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal. Learn more about it, including how it is transmitted, at CDC.gov.
Questions? Call 211.