Solano Pride Center to co-host monkeypox vaccine clinics

The Solano Pride Center says it is working with county health officials to offer high-risk individuals access to the monkeypox vaccine.

The organization says it will work with the Solano County Public Health Office to offer a monkeypox vaccination clinic in Fairfield on Friday, August 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and in Vallejo on Monday, August 8 between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The precise locations of the vaccination clinics were not disclosed. The Solano Pride Center says the vaccinations are by appointment only, and supplies will be limited. Those who are interested are asked to contact Vance Drouillard by phone at 707-2000-7857 or by e-mailing vance@solanopride.org.

Public health officials confirmed the first case of monkeypox in Solano County last month. The county's health office declined to identify the city where the first case was treated.

The first domestic case of the monkeypox was confirmed earlier this year in Massachusetts. As of August 4, confirmed cases of the virus have been identified in all but two states, according to information published by the Centers for Disease Control and reviewed by Solano NewsNet.

Solano health officials say 11 confirmed or suspected cases of the monkeypox virus have been identified locally, according to data published on the county's website.

The possibility of infection is relatively low among the general population, but it can be higher among certain social groups, including among men who have sex with other men. Confirmed cases of monkeypox have been higher in the San Francisco and Los Angeles metropolitan areas, according to state data.

On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency centered on the monkeypox outbreak. The declaration was intended to help bolster the state's vaccination and education efforts in an attempt to curb infections.

In a statement, Governor Newsom said the state would work with federal partners to "secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risk, and stand with the LGBTQ community fighting stigmatization."