LEBANON — A vaccine to prevent monkeypox, an infectious viral disease that causes skin lesions, is now available at several locations in the Upper Valley.
New Hampshire health officials recommend the vaccine, which is given in two doses, four weeks apart, for people who believe they have been exposed to the monkeypox virus and those who may be at higher risk of contracting the virus, including men who have sex with men who have had three or more new sex partners in the past month; who have group or anonymous sex; have sex at sex-on-site venues; exchange sex for money, drugs or other needs; or take medicine to prevent HIV.
Meanwhile, Vermonters who identify as gay, bisexual and other men or trans people who have sex with men and who have more than one sexual partner are eligible for vaccination, according to a news release from the Vermont Department of Health.
“We encourage anyone eligible to seek a vaccine appointment. Vaccination is an important way to protect yourself and prevent further spread of this virus,” Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said in the release. “We appreciate your patience as we continue working to make the vaccine available to as many eligible people as we can.”
On the New Hampshire side of the Upper Valley, the vaccine, Jynneos, is available beginning Friday at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon and at Keady Family Practice in Claremont, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
The DHMC site is an outdoor drive-thru clinic in the Colburn Hill section of the medical center campus, according to a Dartmouth Health news release. For more information and to schedule a vaccine, people can call the DH monkeypox hotline at 603-650-1818. Keady has a questionnaire on its website, kfpmed.com, to help people determine if they are eligible for vaccination.
To qualify for a vaccine through DHHS, people must live, work and/or have a primary care provider in New Hampshire.
On the Vermont side of the Upper Valley, the vaccine is available at all Planned Parenthood locations, including the White River Junction office, for patients and non-patients; and, starting Friday, at local offices of the Vermont Department of Health, including the White River Junction office.
Appointments can be scheduled through Planned Parenthood by calling 866-476-1321. Appointments can be scheduled at the health department offices by calling 802-863-7200 ext. 2 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; and this weekend from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Nora Doyle-Burr can be reached at ndoyleburr@vnews.com or 603-727-3213.
