5 NJ monkeypox vaccine sites open. Find out where – NorthJersey.com

The Monkeypox vaccine is available in five new locations in New Jersey for people at high risk of the disease, which now has infected nearly 300 residents. The expanded availability follows a decision this week by federal officials to spread the supply of the vaccine by allowing each vial to be used for five doses instead of one.

The new sites are in Passaic, Morris, Hudson and Middlesex Counties. They join existing venues in Paramus, Jersey City, Newark, Asbury Park and Camden. Vaccines at the new sites are provided by appointment only.

The locations are:

Totowa: Passaic County Health Department, 930 Riverview Drive, Rear, Suite 250. For appointments, call 973-881-4396.
Dover: Zufall Health Center, 18 West Blackwell St. For appointments, call 973-891-3419.
Union City: North Hudson Community Action Corporation location at Hudson County Community College, 4800 Kennedy Blvd..
Jersey City: North Hudson Community Action Corporation location at Hudson County Community College, 70 Sip St. Make appointments online at: https://nhcac.org/northhudsonmonkeypox/
New Brunswick: Eric B. Chandler Health Center, 277 George St. For appointments, call 732-235-6733.

Monkeypox was declared a public health emergency by federal Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on Aug. 4.

“These new sites will make it easier for eligible residents to locate a vaccine appointment closer to their homes,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. “In addition to the new federal authorization, we are enhancing the vaccine’s reach throughout our state.”

The new sites and authorization from the federal Food and Drug Administration to make each vial go further “will expand available doses for those age 18 and over who are at high risk for monkeypox,” state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said.

FAQ:Answering your questions about Monkeypox with virus present in NJ

Since the first case of monkeypox was detected in New Jersey on May 18, nearly 300 people have been identified with confirmed or probable cases, according to the state Department of Health. About two-thirds of them live in Hudson, Essex, Bergen and Passaic counties. Nationwide, 10,768 cases have been diagnosed, with the largest number in New York. Other hot spots are California, Illinois, Florida and Texas.

Monkeypox vaccines released from the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile are given to eligible New Jersey residents at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus to help prevent the spread of the once-rare disease. A bowl full of monkeypox vaccinations are ready for individuals in Paramus, N.J. on Thursday Aug. 4, 2022.

With demand for the vaccine far exceeding supply, the federal Food and Drug Administration this week authorized a measure to increase the number of doses from each vial of JYNNEOS vaccine. Instead of injecting 0.5 ml into the muscle, the new plan calls for injection 0.1 mil of vaccine between the layers of skin. The FDA review concluded that this would neither reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine nor increase its side effects.

The JYNNEOS vaccine also is now available to children younger than 18 without special permission from the FDA. In Illinois, children at a day care center were vaccinated after a worker who had cared for them was diagnosed with monkeypox.

Demand is high:Appointments at New Jersey vaccine sites fill up quickly

Anyone who has had a direct exposure to someone with confirmed monkeypox should contact their local health department to get the vaccine.

Others who consider themselves at high risk should make an appointment for the vaccine at one of the nine sites supplied the vaccine by the state Health Department. Those eligible, according to the state, are people who attended an event where known monkeypox exposure occurred within the past 14 days, and people who had multiple sexual partners in the past 14 days in areas where monkeypox has been reported.

As of last week, the state had received about 5,500 doses of the vaccine and a majority had been administered or committed to appointments.

Anyone can get monkeypox through close exposure to a person who has it. It is spread mainly through skin-to-skin contact with the blistery rash or sores caused by the disease, or close face-to-face contact. Touching towels or sheets that have been in contact with the lesions can also spread the virus. During the current outbreak, cases have been concentrated among men who have sex with men.

Those most at risk for severe disease are people with weakened immune systems, or a history of atopic dermatitis or eczema.