LA County Gay Sex Clubs and Bathhouses Host Monkeypox Vaccination Clinics – WEHO TIMES
Sex clubs and bathhouses that cater to gay men and men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Greater Los Angeles area hosted monkeypox vaccination clinics at their locations to help stop the spread of monkeypox in the queer community this past week. No proof of qualifications were required at these events. The vaccine was available to anyone with a valid ID through Wesley Health Centers, the contracted provider that normally does HIV and STI testing at all these spaces. The monkeypox vaccination clinics were heavily promoted via social media outlets and word of mouth.
Monkeypox Vaccination Clinic at Slammer Sex Club – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMESMidtowne Spa located at 615 Kohler Street, in Los Angeles hosted the first event last Saturday, July 23, 2022. The clinic distributed 150 vaccination shots to first come, first serve individuals and quickly ran out of their supply.
Flex Spa, located at 4424 Melrose Avenue hosted a clinic at their parking lot on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The clinic at the location distributed 338 monkeypox vaccinations. The event was first come, first served with a valid ID being the only requirement. The wait was roughly four hours long.
The North Hollywood Spa at 5636 Vineland Avenue distributed 250 vaccinations this past weekend on Saturday, July 30, 2022. The line was also several hours long.
The Slammer sex club at 3688 Beverly Boulevard ran out of their 250 supply a half-hour after opening the clinic. Men were being directed to Obregon Park at 4021 E. 1st Street where proof of a PrEP prescription was required.
Sex and bathhouses cannot afford another county shutdown due to the monkeypox emergency. Los Angeles County lost four gay sex entertainment spaces during the COVID-19 shutdown. Two Roman Holiday bathhouses, The Zone sex club and 1750 spa shuttered after being closed for over two years.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency to combat the outbreak of Monkeypox in California this week.
The City of West Hollywood will be hosting a monkeypox vaccination clinic scheduled to launch this week on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 from 9am to 6pm at the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
The City of West Hollywood will share information about the LA County Public Health monkeypox vaccination Clinic on its website http://weho.org/news and with a news release and in social media. To learn more visit: http://ph.lacounty.gov/monkeypox.