Desert Aids Project to Offer Free Meningitis Vaccine

Palm Springs, CA – Desert AIDS Project will be offering free meningitis vaccines Thursday in light of a recent health advisory issued by the California Department of Public Health concerning an outbreak of the disease in Southern California.

From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., vaccines will be distributed to the general public at the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, which is partnering with Desert AIDS Project for the vaccine effort.

The disease primarily affects gay and bisexual men, but all are welcome to receive the vaccine, without any need to register beforehand, according to Desert AIDS Project staff.

On June 24, California Department of Public Health and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith issued a health advisory regarding an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease. Since early May, nine cases, including one fatal case, were identified by the department, mostly among gay and bisexual men living in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

"We are concerned that gay and bisexual men in Southern California may be at increased risk for meningococcal disease," said Dr. Smith. "We encourage men who partner with other men to be aware of the risk of meningococcal disease and consider getting vaccinated."

People infected with HIV are at particular risk and it is recommended that they receive two doses of the MenACWY vaccine.

Symptoms of meningococcal disease may include fever, vomiting, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, rash, and generalized muscle pains. Symptoms typically appear just a few days after exposure, which spreads from person to person through small droplets of respiratory secretions from the nose and throat, according to CDPH, who urged those who experience symptoms to seek medical care immediately.

Several outbreaks of the diseases among gay and bisexual men have been reported in New York City, Los Angeles County and Chicago since 2014. Desert AIDS Project administered more than 300 vaccinations in response during April and May of 2014, though no local cases of meningitis were found.

"When we saw a similar outbreak in 2014, just prior to The White Party, which attracts primarily gay men, we knew that we needed to protect both our local community and those visiting," said David Brinkman, Desert AIDS Project CEO. "We're doing the same now."

– By City News Service. Image via Shutterstock.