Friday 24 June 2022 02:03 PM NYC clinic offering monkeypox vaccine to gay and bi men forced to close due to ... trends now
New York City officials have come under fire for a botched rollout of moneypox vaccines for at-risk gay and bisexual men just two days before Pride - amid fears festivities for the annual event will trigger a surge in cases.
It comes as nearly 30 cases of the rash-causing virus have been detected in the five boroughs - with nearly all being among men who engage in same-sex relations.
Hundreds of people were seen lining up for their jab outside the Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic Thursday afternoon, after city officials sent out a sudden announcement over Twitter announcing the rollout - which was already in progress.
However, within hours, citizens were soon being turned away, after overwhelming turnout saw officials supply exhausted - spurring backlash from at-risk men who lined up for their first dose of the two-part jab.
Critics have said the jab should have been rolled out sooner, as even the lucky few who did receive a shot Thursday will not be fully protected from monkeypox if they attend this weekend's festivities.
Speaking to CBS Thursday, one such citizen expressed fears of a prospective explosion of cases over the weekend.
'I think that lots of gay men in New York have been keeping tabs on it closer than our straight counterparts,' he said.
'I think that lots of us have heard stories of a friend of a friend who got monkeypox – and it felt there was a sense of, if we didn’t get the vaccine now, especially after we’re going to see so many friends this weekend at pride, that we would eventually get monkeypox.'
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The decision saw hundreds of gay and bisexual New Yorkers that met the city stipulations for the shot turned away, amid fears of a prospective explosion of cases during Pride celebrations
Demand for the jab quickly exceeded the city's supply, forcing officials to nix the program within hours of its launch
'Starting TODAY, we are offering vaccination to eligible New Yorkers who may have been exposed to monkeypox,' the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene wrote just after 12 pm.
The demand, however, quickly exceeded the city's supply, forcing officials to nix the program within hours of its launch.
At 1:57, the agency wrote: 'Due to high demand, we will no longer be able to accommodate walk-ins today. Check back on Sunday for additional appointments. '
It added that all appointments for a first dose of the two-dose Jynneos vaccine were filled through Monday.
The decision saw hundreds of New Yorkers that met the city stipulations for the shot - gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men' who are 18 or over and have had 'multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days - turned away.
The decision saw hundreds of New Yorkers gay and bisexual Big Apple residents turned away
Monkeypox vaccinations are being administered at the clinic between 11am and 7pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, officials say.
They have not revealed how they are determining whether patients have sex with men or have had multiple sexual partners, although this is likely being done through a questionnaire.
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