PSA: Monkeypox in SF
Where to get a vaccine (maybe) and a lil ranting.
Let’s talk about what everyone is quietly ignoring and anxious over: Monkeypox.
First and foremost, what is Monkeypox? It’s a virus — “primarily [spread] through direct contact with infectious sores, scabs, or body fluids, including during sex, as well as activities like kissing, hugging, massaging, and cuddling”, (the same kind of activities you performed in that playspace in the backroom with the sling). But, it can even be spread just handling items like bedding touched by a person with Monkeypox, so really there shouldn’t be any stigma. This thing is fairly transmissible for anyone in close proximity, especially circuit parties. For more information, including symptoms and prevention, see this CDC guide.
And you know what else it is? It’s effing gross, guys. You will itch feverishly. There are puss-filled lesions all over your body. You will not want to be touched or leave your apartment for several weeks. Your Ubereats driver will be the only man to text you back.
As of today, two very fun mega-events (amongst others), Electroluxx and Afterglow parties (Gay Agenda SF Pride picks) have notified attendees about possible exposure. Each of these notifications provide identical sites where San Francisco residents can (supposedly) receive testing and vaccinations:
SF City Clinic: 356 7th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, 628-217-6600
Strut: 470 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114, 415-581-1600
San Francisco Department of Public Health Immunization Clinic: 415-554-2525
Additional Resources:
Kaiser-Permanente patients: 415-833-9999 (8:30am-5pm to discuss eligibility and schedule an appointment)
SF Health Network patients should send your primary care provider a MyChart message requesting a vaccine
SFDPH’s Adult Immunization And Travel Clinic (AITC), 415-554-2625
Strut by San Francisco Aids Foundation is, by far, your best option right now. On an ordinary day, the flagship health & wellness center in The Castro offers sexual health services, substance use counseling, as well as PrEP, HIV and STI testing. Yours truly was able to snag an appointment for this weekend (thot & prayers no symptoms materialize by then) and now we hear that the facility is keeping a waitlist for future appointments. Side note: We love Strut. It provides a critical service to the community, holds events, and will treat you whether or not you have any health insurance. More notably,…there is a dreamy feathered blond hair cutie behind the desk that makes me melt. <drools>
Overall, the response is a clusterfcuk, though. Despite health professionals’ best efforts, the situation is reminiscent of the early Covid vaccine response and rollout. Demand already far outweighs supply and each clinic refers back to the others as an option since they are fresh out. No one really knows when they’ll get more (yay). Staff from the health department are trying to call every person back and collect information, but seem to have no resolution or guidance, except to isolate for 3-4 weeks. The only advice given was to just keep checking back. After a certain point, though, it’s too late for a post-exposure prophylactic.
According to this article, the “Department of Health and Human Services plans to make 56,000 doses of the preferred monkeypox vaccine, Jynneos, available immediately and expects a total of 1.6 million doses to be available in the country by the end of the year”. By the end of the year?! That’s 6 months from now. At the rate gays are “making contact” in the meat rack of Fire Island, cases are bound to explode. One model projects at current trends, we could reach 100,000 by August and the first million in September.
Listen, we’re not epidemiologists here at Gay Agenda SF, but that seems like a lot of gays and a whole lot less available bussy. Rather than simply wait for a mediocre government response, there’s more we can do. Try to partner with health professionals to advocate for expedited resources. So, sign those petitions and hound your elected officials!
It’s also important not to make.it.worse. Try not to be apathetic. This disease can be serious and even disfigure people. A small percentage do have severe cases. That could mean you. We’re not going to go all @gaysovercovid on you, just ask that you be smart about it. If you have a symptom, perhaps, wait to go to that sweaty shirtless dance party until you are treated? Otherwise: we totally get that the show must go on. Get your freak on.
And, you can bet Gay Agenda SF plans to continue being your source for what’s what and who to do for the gay in you. Check out our recent July spotlight on Baloney SF!
Have fun and be safe. Remember that consent is sexy and no fboy is worth your time.
XOXO, Baron Whistlebottom
Need advice or have a fun messy story for us ? E-mail gayagendasf@gmail.com