Kansas City is scheduling monkeypox vaccine appointments. How to get on the waitlist

The Kansas City Health Department is expanding its criteria for who can get a monkeypox vaccine and has created a form to see if you qualify to be added to a vaccine waitlist. Getting on the department’s waitlist will be the fastest way to get a vaccine appointment, which will be scheduled as soon as Monday.

Until now, residents who have been exposed to the virus and wanted the vaccine were considered on a case-by-case basis and approved by the state health department.

Now, the city health department will be able to vaccinate folks who are considered high risk for infection, even if they’re unsure if they have been exposed to the virus.

So far during this outbreak, monkeypox is disproportionately affecting gay and bisexual men and their social networks, and people in these communities are the first eligible for the limited supply of vaccines.

“We acknowledge that anybody can get monkeypox,” said Scott Clardy, deputy director of the Kansas City Health Department. “Because we have such a national shortage of vaccines at this time. We’re targeting the high risk groups to get the vaccine at this point in time.”

How many vaccines does Kansas City have?

As of Friday, the Kansas City Health Department has 1,800 vials of the JYNNEOS vaccine. The department will be dose sparing, which means that they are giving each eligible patient one fifth of a dose in order to stretch the vaccine supply to vaccinate a total of 4,500 people.

“I can tell you all the sites have vaccines in stock, they’re ready to go. We’ll probably start calling people on Monday, and then it just depends on how quickly people can get in here,” Clardy said.

The department has been given a greenlight to vaccinate up to 1,125 people who fit in the category of being high risk but may not know if they have been exposed to the virus. The other 3,375 will still go to people who have been in contact with a known case of monkeypox.

How do you know if you are eligible for a vaccine in Kansas City?

Missouri residents can fill out this form so the department can identify if you are eligible for the vaccine. People who are eligible will be placed on a waiting list, which is the fastest way to get a vaccine appointment.

People who are eligible and are added to the waitlist will hear from the health department as early as Monday about setting up a time to get vaccinated.

What are the requirements for getting a vaccination?

People who have been in contact with a known case of monkeypox are eligible for the vaccine.

The department has also identified high risk groups that will be approved for the vaccine waiting list. Those groups who qualify for the waitlist include:

• Gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men, or transgender people, who have had any of the following within the past 14 days:

• Transgender men or women who have had two or more same-sex sexual partners in last 14 days

• People who have engaged in a social and/or sexual venue in last 14 days, which could include interacting with someone with lesions at a bar or party or visiting a bathhouse or strip club

• People who have given or received money or other goods/service in exchange for sex in last 14 days or have engaged in survival/work sex

What does the survey ask?

The survey will ask for some basic information including your name, number and email. It will also ask whether or not you have come in contact with someone who has a confirmed case of monkeypox.

It will ask if you meet any of the criteria in the above section. You only need to meet one for the four approved criteria in order to be placed on the waiting list.

The city’s screening form includes a question asking participants to acknowledge that their “information will be shared with the local public health agency and the vaccine clinic only for treatment purposes.”

The health department added that federal law prohibits anyone from sharing protected information with anyone other than the patient and the patient’s designated representatives.

You can see the survey for yourself here.

Where can you get the vaccine?

Vaccines will be distributed at five different locations across the Kansas City area. Those locations include:

• KCMO Health Department, 2400 Troost Avenue

• University Health-Truman, 2301 Holmes Street

• KC CARE Health Center, 3515 Broadway Boulevard

• Vivent Health, 4309 E. 50th Terrace, Suite 200

• St Joseph, MO Health Department, 904 S. 10th Street

How is the health department getting this information out to the community?

“We have folks here at the health department that have programs that are specifically targeted toward people who are considered high risk for this particular outbreak,” Clardy said.

Those programs include the health department’s HIV Services program and its wellness ambassadors, which work to connect with more people who may be at a higher risk of contracting the virus. Both programs work to connect local residents to services and programs offered by the health department.

If you have more questions about getting tested or vaccinated, call your local health department or your healthcare provider to see if you’re eligible.

Kansas City Health Department: 816-513-6152

Jackson County Health Department: 816-404-6415

Clay County Health Department: 816-595-4200

Platte County Health Department: 816-858-2412

Johnson County Health Department: 913-715-2819

Wyandotte County Health Department: 913-573-8855