In Los Angeles, we were fortunate enough to have a partnership with the LA LGBT Center to provide the vaccine and an agreement from the LA Department of Public Health to put together a vaccine clinic for sex workers. Since then, we’ve received many questions about how sex workers can access vaccination in their areas. While ultimately this is a matter of national governments providing adequate supply and guidance, we’ve put together this short guide for how you can get make access available locally.

STEP 1) Find out who is providing monkeypox vaccines locally.

This will differ from place to place. In some cases the public health department partners with community organizations, like the LA LGBT Center, to administer the vaccine to targeted communities. In some instances, it may be administered by county resources directly (such as Las Vegas). These are the folks you’ll ultimately need to work with to get the vaccine into people’s arms. 

We have a list of resources known to us, but you should also be able to find these folks by searching online for “[Your City] AND monkeypox vaccine”. You may also be able to find these resources through your region’s public health department. 

Ask them if they are currently vaccinating sex workers. If they say yes - fantastic! Advertise that to your community, and let us know and we’ll share that information as well. If they say no - go to step two.

STEP 2) Determine who is able to make decisions regarding vaccine eligibility in your jurisdiction.

This is a big ask, and may require some community organizing. In the US, broad vaccine eligibility criteria is provided by the CDC and interpreted by the local health authority (in the case of Los Angeles, that is the county - specifically LA Department of Public Health). This means while the LA LGBT Center administers the vaccine, their supply and who they are able to vaccinate is ultimately determined and monitored by the county. The CDC has not specifically designated sex workers as a population that needs vaccine access (though ask them to do so here) - but until they do it means the local health authority is responsible for deciding whether or not sex workers are eligible. 

Step 3) Still running into barriers? Tell us.

If you have tried to get the vaccine in your area, and have been denied access - let us know, and we’ll use your story to advocate for more access. We’re working with local governments and organizations to get more access to the monkeypox vaccine, and your stories help us give specific detail to the barriers our communities are facing. You are welcome to provide the story anonymously, though also let us know if you’d like to be contacted by other organizers or press about your situation.

Our community is ready to take care of ourselves, we just need the government to #GiveUsAShot.