Hoping to help residents of the greater Palm Springs area uniquely vulnerable to monkeypox, a local healthcare provider has plans to distribute a large shipment of vaccines from the federal government that have been made available here.
The news: Officials with the city and its convention center said Tuesday morning they are in the early stages of hosting a vaccination clinic at the convention center on Saturday, Sept. 17. That clinic will follow another vaccination event planned nearby this coming Saturday.
- In both cases, DAP Health is leading the efforts, working to assure those here receive the monkeypox vaccine. The healthcare provider recently received 1,000 vials of vaccine that it hopes contain enough to provide between 4,000 and 5,000 injections.
Details: According to a report from KESQ’s Peter Daut, DAP Health is planning the first vaccination event at its main campus in the city this Saturday, Sept. 10. City officials said Tuesday morning they hope a second clinic can be held at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Sept. 17.
- Anyone hoping to receive the vaccine is asked to complete this vaccine interest form on the Riverside University Health System (RUHS) website.
Bigger picture: As of Tuesday afternoon, a total of 96 probable or confirmed monkeypox cases have been reported in Palm Springs, making up almost half of the county’s aggregate count of 201, according to the latest RUHS data.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control, monkeypox is generally — but not always — spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting from infectious rashes and scabs.
- Symptoms include pimples, blisters, rashes, fever and fatigue. Anyone experiencing symptoms is urged to visit a medical provider, cover the rash area with clothing, wear a mask, and avoid close or skin-to-skin contact with others
