PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is now offering non-appointment options to those who are eligible for the monkeypox (MPX) vaccine at the Long Beach City College, Pacific Coast Campus (PCC) vaccination site. This is in effort to provide equitable distribution and increase access of the MPX vaccine, as well as make it easier for people to get vaccinated and protected quickly.

“Making the MPX vaccine readily accessible to those at high risk continues to be our top priority” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “Opening up our clinics to allow non-appointments will ensure that we vaccinate and protect people quickly, efficiently and equitably.”

The vaccination site at PCC, located at Parking Lot 1 on the corner of Orange Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway, offers appointments and non-appointments on the following days and times:

• Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.
• Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

While non-appointments are now available, the Health Department strongly recommends that eligible people make an appointment. Due to limited vaccine supply, non-appointments are offered on a first-come, first-served basis while supply lasts. Those seeking non-appointments will be required to self-attest they meet eligibility criteria prior to receiving vaccine. People interested in scheduling an MPX vaccine appointment may do so by visiting the State’s vaccination portal at MyTurn.ca.gov.

Exposure Risk Activities
MPX can be spread from person to person through direct contact with body fluids or lesions, or contaminated materials such as clothing or linens, and through respiratory droplets through prolonged face-to-face contact. Anyone who comes into direct contact with someone with MPX is at risk, but certain activities can increase a person's risk of exposure.

High exposure risk activities include close contact with someone who has symptoms through:

• Hugging, kissing or cuddling
• Sexual contact
• Sharing items such as bedding, towels or clothing

Medium exposure risk activities include:

• Lengthy, close face-to-face interaction, such as breathing, coughing or talking, with someone who has symptoms
• Attending a crowded indoor event with people who are not fully clothed

Minimal exposure risk activities include:

• Attending an outdoor event with fully clothed people
• Trying on clothing at a store
• Traveling in an airport, plane or public transport
• Swimming in a pool, hot tub or body of water
• Going to public settings such as grocery stores, restaurants, workplaces, schools or restrooms

The Health Department urges people to take additional steps to protect themselves and lower the risk of MPX exposure, including avoiding skin-to-skin or prolonged face-to-face contact with anyone who has symptoms, not sharing materials such as bedding, towels, clothing, utensils or cups with someone who has symptoms, asking intimate and other sexual partners about symptoms, practicing safer sex (such as reducing the number of sexual partners), keeping hands clean and maintaining respiratory etiquette.

On Aug. 23, the City expanded eligibility of the MPX vaccine. The City has been working diligently in its response to monkeypox and has been working closely with healthcare providers in the community, including sexual health clinics and LGBTQ+ centers, to provide vaccine, education and guidance. The Health Department has activated its Department Operations Center, prioritizing resources and leadership to focus on the clinical, epidemiological and community response.

As of today, there are 82 confirmed and probable cases of MPX in Long Beach. At least two have required hospitalization, and all others are either isolating and recovering at home or have recovered. To date, the City has administered 4,030 doses of MPX vaccine.

The Department encourages all residents to visit longbeach.gov/monkeypox for up-to-date facts on MPX, and to avoid misinformation. You can also follow updates, tips and notices on the Health Department’s social media pages @LBHealthDept and by following the hashtag #monkeypoxLB.