The search for the monkeypox vaccine just got easier with two clinics opening during the weekend.
“We realized some patients may not be able to take time off from work during the week or come during the hours in the week,” said Dr. Lukejohn Day, chief medical officer at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
There were no long lines on Saturday compared to earlier clinics where people waited hours to get a dose of the vaccine. According to hospital officials, they’ve streamlined the registration process for eligible patients to receive the vaccine.
San Francisco received the federal government’s 10,000 monkeypox vaccine doses earlier this week.
“We’ve been averaging 600-to-1000 vaccines per day. We’ve not turned anyone away,” Day said.
Kaiser Permanente also opened its first walk-in monkeypox vaccine clinic on Geary Boulevard. Kaiser members and non-members were welcome.
“We just really want people to come and get vaccinated if they qualify, so we can do our part at ending this disease,” said Scott Keech from Kaiser Permanente.
San Francisco has over 500 confirmed monkeypox cases, while Santa Clara and Alameda counties have over 50 each.
“We’re seeing increased numbers of people getting evaluated and treated. Hospitalizations around monkeypox have also increased in the last couple of days. It speaks to the need to get vaccinations out to the community, especially those at risk or exposed to monkeypox,” Day said.
