An effort to vaccinate people against Monkeypox is taking place Thursday in Lexington. The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is holding a vaccine clinic from 9 A.M.- to- 3 P.M. at Central Baptist Church. Officials say around thirty cases of Monkeypox have been reported in Kentucky, three of those have been in Lexington.
Kevin Hall is a spokesman for the department. He said the illness is spread through close contact and is often mistaken for only being a sexually transmitted disease.
“But it can be spread through just close contact like hugging, kissing, from sharing close quarters, sometimes sharing the same equipment or clothing, while that is more rare, it can happen.”
He said a new group has been added to the priority list.
“Right now the vaccine is eligible for healthcare professionals who have had high risk exposure without using the recommended personal protective equipment. So, you’ve got lab workers, you’ve got medical workers people who qualify for that.”
Hall says the limited number of vaccines means they will have to prioritize who gets the vaccination. Officials say those most at risk are men who have sex with men. Anyone looking to get the vaccine must register online.
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