Men and Women Need the Monkeypox Virus Vaccine ASAP!
Housed and Unhoused Persons Get to the Clinic!
Men and women who are sexually active should make plans to get vaccinated against the Monkeypox Virus (MPV) immediately. This is especially true for persons who meet the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) outlines of people who are more likely to contract the virus.
Guidelines for those who should make arrangements to get the vaccine have been established by the CDC. “CDC recommends vaccination for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and people who may be more likely to get monkeypox. People more likely to get monkeypox include:
People who have been identified by public health officials as a contact of someone with monkeypox
People who are aware that one of their sexual partners in the past 2 weeks has been diagnosed with monkeypox
People who had multiple sexual partners in the past 2 weeks in an area with known monkeypox
People whose jobs may expose them to orthopoxviruses, “such as certain laboratory and healthcare employees (Vaccines | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC).
In addition, people are urged to practice safer sex. And people are advised against attending sex parties and other casual meeting venues with strangers whose MPV status is unknown—and of course events being attended by persons who are known to currently be infected by the virus (Prevention | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC).
The virus is contagious and does NOT require direct sexual contact to spread. It does NOT require you be a gay man to contract it. It does NOT require you be naked to spread it. And (like some other things in life) it does NOT take more than just once to get it or give it (How it Spreads | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC).
Whether you live outdoors or indoors, MVP is coming down your street. And this is not the most valuable player—but it is a contagious one! Some people have been assuming it is only a certain type or group of gay men who get it—or will get it. Some people have been stating that it is impossible to get the virus from objects. This is NOT the case. The virus may be contracted from fabric or any object—from bed sheets to utensils (How to Protect Yourself | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC).
Men who have sex with men (MSM) may be gay, bisexual, trans, downlow, fluid, in denial, or living on the Nile. MVP does not care. The best protection so far is the vaccine, and it is harder to find in some places than in others. Although two doses are currently recommended, the big push right now is to get as many MSM guys as possible their first dose. The MSM community is where the majority of cases are showing up so far (MPV Update Health and Human Relations Committee Briefing (chicago.gov)).
Particularly at risk for infection are women whose partners are MSM—without the woman being aware of this situation. Down low men may avoid talking about sex with men—or the recent outbreak of the MVP—and also keep things about that part of their sexual life secret. For whatever reason, including religious ones, men of certain communities stay on the down low (Why some black men prefer the down low and what it says about the black church in America - The Washington Post).
To be on the down low or to be DL and related nicknames originally referred more specifically to African American males who were MSM. Now, however, it is applied to men of any race or community. In addition, it can be used for other secret activities (Down-low Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com).
Unfortunately, as with other infectious diseases, it is the women with down low men who wind up at risk. Unaware of the danger, they continue to have sex with their partner—at the same time he is out there meeting new men and having sex with those strangers.
It should be very telling that the CDC information on protecting oneself and preventing transmission of the virus says NOTHING ABOUT THE GENDER OR ORIENTATION OF THE PERSON WHO IS AT RISK (How it Spreads | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC).
Following are some specific numbers of confirmed cases:
· There are now over 7,500 cases in the U.S., and over 500 in Chicago alone (MPV Update Health and Human Relations Committee Briefing (chicago.gov)).
· In Illinois? Over 9,000 cases (2022 U.S. Map & Case Count | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC).
· How does that look in terms of world-wide cases? There have been in 89 countries (2022 Monkeypox Outbreak Global Map | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC). This includes 82 countries that have never reported incidence of cases in the past.
In the U.S., the response to the virus is going well. Governments and agencies are responding. Chicago is doing what looks to be a stellar job thus far! (https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/monkeypox/home.html).
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) staff have been watching what’s happening with the Monkeypox Virus and tell us of a big step just taken by President Biden: “Declaring MPV to be a public health emergency is a crucial step forward in sounding the alarm and bringing much-needed urgency to the federal response. The window for immediate action is rapidly closing…” (https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-commends-the-biden-administrations-monkeypox-mpv-public-health-emergency-declaration-calls-for-swift-federal-action).
The HRC has been keeping close tabs on the growth of the cases, “especially as the virus spreads primarily among gay, bisexual and transgender men, and transgender women.”
The big push in Chicago and some other cities has apparently been to vaccinate gay and bisexual men as soon as possible, as mentioned above. There are many bars, clinics, and agencies currently offering the vaccine—most free of charge.
Google your way – there are lots of possibilities out there. The City of Chicago and Cook County – in addition to other entities – are making a great deal of information available (https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/monkeypox/home.html).
What does the virus look like? How does it progress? The CDC explains:
“People with monkeypox get a rash that may be located on or near the genitals (penis, testicles, labia, and vagina) or anus (butthole) and could be on other areas like the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth.
The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.
The rash can initially look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.
Other symptoms of monkeypox can include:
Fever
Chills
Swollen lymph nodes
Exhaustion
Muscle aches and backache
Headache
Respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
You may experience all or only a few symptoms” (Signs and Symptoms | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC)
There are a huge number of resources coming from yesterday’s meeting of the minds on the MPV situation in the city. Follow this link for a wealth of information on the Chicago response to the virus, where to get help, where to get more details, and what you should be doing to avoid the virus (MPV Update Health and Human Relations Committee Briefing (chicago.gov)). There are several different websites to consult and learn from.
Coming up with a plan now is important so you can protect yourself and loved ones in your family and community. MVP does not care if you live indoors—or in the park. MVP does not care if you help homeless people and bring resources such as the above to those persons or not. MVP does not care if you have two bathrooms—or none.
The virus enjoys chaos, sadness, deceit, and grief. The job of the virus is to spread and to harm.
Let’s put MVP out of work!