Monkeypox vaccine available on Fire Island this week

The monkeypox vaccine becomes available Thursday at six pop-up clinics across two Fire Island communities — Cherry Grove and the Fire Island Pines

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has announced that the vaccination appointments will be available to eligible patients.

“While Suffolk County has a handful of confirmed monkeypox cases, I want to reiterate that this is not cause for alarm or panic,” Bellone said. “This week, working with our partners at Northwell Health, we will begin to administer the vaccine to help reduce the chance and severity of infection in those who have been exposed, with the goal of containing the spread.

“As vaccine production ramps up, we will expand our operations to ensure that anyone who wants to get vaccinated is able to,” he added.

As of July 11, 865 confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported in the United States, with 156 confirmed cases in New York.

Monkeypox spreads through close, physical contact between people, the state health department reports. This means anyone can get monkeypox. However, based on the current outbreak, certain populations are being affected by monkeypox more than others, according to the state health department.

Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox, and its symptoms are similar to smallpox, though milder.

The disease is rarely fatal and includes such symptoms as fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body.

The illness typically lasts two to four weeks and some people get the rash first, followed by other symptoms, while others only experience a rash.

Click here for information on whether to get vaccinated and to learn who is eligible for the monkeypox vaccine in New York state.

“There’s a vaccine to help prevent the spread of monkeypox and for that, we are very grateful,” said Suffolk County Health Commissioner Gregson Pigott. “We encourage those who may be at risk to get the vaccine and in the meantime be cautious with your intimate relations.”

The pop-up clinics are stationed at the following locations on these specific dates and times:

Cherry Grove

Northwell Health Physician Partners at 153 Doctors Walk
- July 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- July 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- July 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- July 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.