Open Door Health’s Clinic Now Accepting Monkeypox Vaccine Appointment Requests
GoLocalProv News Team
Open Door Health’s Clinic Now Accepting Monkeypox Vaccine Appointment Requests
Open Door Health, a Rhode Island Public Health Institute initiative and Rhode Island’s leading LGBTQ+ primary care and sexual health clinic, is now accepting appointment requests on a first-come, first-served basis.
Located on Central Street in Providence, Open Door Health is one of a few Rhode Island healthcare facilities that is distributing the JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine to eligible Rhode Islanders. Open Door Health is accepting vaccination appointment requests from any gay, bisexual or other man who has sex with other men who reports having multiple sexual partners. The clinic will prioritize individuals in this population who have been exposed to the monkeypox virus, or who are immunocompromomised or have a weakened immune system.
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Dr. Nunn will appear on GoLocal LIVE on Thursday at 11 AM
The Rhode Island Department of Health is also hosting two community vaccination events this week. Pre-registration is strictly required for these events, and can be made at health.ri.gov/monkeypox. RIDOH’s vaccination events will be held:
Friday, Aug. 5 (4 – 8 p.m.) at Rhode Island College, Room 110 (600 Mount Pleasant Ave., Providence)
Saturday, Aug. 6 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) at Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School (375 Adelaide Ave., Providence)
For individuals who are not able to attend this weekend’s community vaccination events, Open Door Health is currently accepting vaccination appointment requests at www.odhpvd.org/monkeypox.
Due to the extraordinarily high volume of calls, online requests are strongly encouraged. Individuals with a known exposure to the monkeypox virus or who are displaying symptoms should immediately call Open Door Health’s newly launched monkeypox hotline at 401-648-4700.
“Open Door Health proudly affirms the dignity of all persons, including sexual and gender minorities, and we will offer our patients with high-quality medical care in a safe, welcoming and accepting environment. We encourage all eligible Rhode Islanders who believe they may have been exposed to the virus or are displaying symptoms to call our hotline and make an appointment. While our vaccine supply currently remains extremely limited, we have opened up an online vaccination appointment request form for individuals to get on a waiting list. This will help us quickly and efficiently administer more shots as additional supply becomes available,” added Nunn.
Monkeypox was first identified in the United States on May 18 in an individual from Massachusetts. Although it can spread to anybody regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, the monkeypox virus is disproportionately impacting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Early data suggests the monkeypox virus is rarely fatal, but symptoms can be extremely painful and can sometimes lead to permanent scarring and other long-term medical issues.
The virus is most commonly spread through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact including direct contact with monkeypox rash, sores, or scabs, contact with objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox, and through respiratory droplets or oral fluids from a person with monkeypox.