South San Francisco, CA September 22, 2022 Submitted by Karl Sonkin, Kaiser Permanente
A walk-in community clinic will be held on October 9 to provide vaccinations for eligible individuals needing their first or second dose
Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center is increasing access to the MPX vaccine by offering a walk-in community clinic in October.
The medical center previously held a successful clinic on September 11, offering the MPX vaccine to eligible individuals.
“We did a lot of set up in advance to make sure the September clinic went smoothly on a really beautiful Sunday,” said Jamila Champsi, MD, Chief of Infectious Disease at Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco. “We expect the next clinic to be equally efficient, which further protects our community against this disease.”
The October 9 clinic at Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco is open to Kaiser Permanente members and non-members. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins will also be accepted.
First and second doses of the vaccine will be available. Second doses will be given to those who received their first dose of the MPX vaccine more than 28 days ago.
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a virus that belongs to the same family of viruses that cause smallpox. It’s less contagious than smallpox and usually spreads through close, personal contact. Generally, it also causes less severe illness, so most monkeypox cases resolve on their own.
Kaiser Permanente is committed to providing residents with equitable access to the MPX vaccine to help reduce the spread of this disease in our communities.
“The Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco clinic in September was a great opportunity to provide this vaccine to our community,” said Douglas Zuckermann, MD, Cardiology and Assistant Physician in Chief of the Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center. ”I know many patients left feeling safer after being vaccinated.”
Kaiser Permanente is working with the San Mateo County Department of Public Health to promote the clinic.
The upcoming clinic will be held beneath a large white tent in the north parking lot at the Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center, located at 1200 El Camino Real.
Appointments will be scheduled every ten minutes from 9:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. and from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling (650)742-3010. For anyone needing second doses after the October 9 clinic, please call (650) 742-3010.
As with all infectious diseases, it is important that information, vaccination, and treatment are widely available, and that no stigma is attached to anyone who may have been exposed to and/or contract monkeypox. For more information, visit: Monkeypox: What You Need to Know | Kaiser Permanente