AHF offers free Meningitis vaccines in L.A.

In News by AHF

HEALTH NOTE: The meningitis vaccine provides protection for five (5) years, so any individual who was vaccinated in April 2013—when there was a similar meningitis outbreak that also killed three Southern California gay men last year—does NOT need to get a booster shot or be re-vaccinated at this time.

AHF to offer free meningitis vaccines:

AHF Hollywood Men’s Wellness Center

1300 N. Vermont Ave., Suite 407, Los Angeles, CA , 90027  Phone: P: (866) 339-2525

Hours: Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri, 5:30pm to 9:00pm – Saturday, 9:30am – 5:00pm

PLEASE NOTE AHF MEN’S WELLNESS CENTER IS CLOSED ON TUESDAYs

 

AHF’s Men’s Wellness Center/Hollywood and L.A. County Dept. of Public Health to offer free vaccines.

A cluster of eight cases of invasive meningococcal disease meningitis has emerged in the Los Angeles area in 2014, four of which were in men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM); 

one year ago, a cluster of bacterial meningitis cases killed three MSM in Southern California and seven individuals in New York

 

LOS ANGELES (APRIL 2, 2014) In response to reports of a new cluster of meningitis cases found among Los Angeles area gay men and men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM), Los Angeles County Public Health Department officials released an official statement today documenting eight cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) reported so far in Los Angeles in 2014. Four of the cases were found in MSM; three of who were also HIV-positive. County officials recommended that HIV-positive MSM and high-risk HIV-negative MSM be vaccinated against the infection. (NOTE: County officials define ‘higher risk’ as those MSM “who regularly have close or intimate contact with multiple partners, or who seek partners through the use of digital applications, particularly those who share cigarettes, marijuana or use illegal drugs.”) AHF’s Men’s Wellness Center in Hollywood and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will offer free vaccines.

“We—like the public-at-large—are anxiously waiting for details on these latest meningitis cases found among Los Angeles area gay men,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “AIDS Healthcare Foundation is ready to respond immediately to this heath issue, and we hope and trust that Los Angeles County will include the community as essential partners in this effort. You cannot mount an effective defense against meningitis without full community participation.”

Current information available is that a ‘cluster’ of eight cases of invasive meningococcal disease has been documented in Los Angeles, among Los Angeles area men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM).

According to LA County’s press release on the present cluster of infections, “Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a sporadic and uncommon bacterial infection of the blood or the lining of the brain and spinal cord that can affect the entire body. The infection can cause brain damage, hearing loss, and even death. The bacteria can be spread by very close exposure to sneezing and coughing or direct contact with saliva or nose mucus. Disease symptoms may include: high fever, stiff neck, altered mental status, skin rash, severe headache, low blood pressure, aversion to bright lights, and generalized muscle pains. Symptoms usually occur within 5 days of the exposure, but may present as many as 10 days after exposure. IMD progresses rapidly, so immediate diagnosis and treatment is imperative.”

Previous L.A. Area Meningitis Cases among the MSM Population

In April 2013, Southern California men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) were hit by a similar cluster of cases of the more deadly bacterial meningitis strain, which killed two Los Angeles gay men and a San Diego student:

  • Brett Shaad, 33 year-old West Hollywood resident, died on April 13, 2013.
  • Rjay Spoon, a 30 year-old gay man from Downtown Los Angeles, died of acute Neisseria Meningitis on December 16, 2012 in Los Angeles.
  • A 30 year-old San Diego State University student who lived in Chula Vista died of the same disease on December 10, 2012.

At the time, bacterial meningitis was also responsible for as many as seven MSM deaths in the New York City area. In response to the Los Angeles cases in 2013, AHF mounted an aggressive meningitis vaccination program and provided 3,357 free vaccinations between April 15th and April 22nd. AHF officials also pressed L.A. County public health official to step up its response to the cluster.

AHF will be offering free meningitis vaccines at its Hollywood Men’s Wellness Center:

  • AHF Hollywood Men’s Wellness Center

1300 N. Vermont Ave., Suite 407, Los Angeles, CA , 90027

Phone: P: (866) 339-2525

Hours: Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri, 5:30pm to 9:00pm – Saturday, 9:30am – 5:00pm

  • PLEASE NOTE AHF MEN’S WELLNESS CENTER IS CLOSED ON TUESDAYs 

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will also be offering free meningococcal vaccine to LA County residents without health insurance, beginning Thursday, April 3. For a listing of clinics, please call the LA County Information Line at 2-1-1 from any cell phone or land line in the county or visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/.

California’s Condoms in porn bill (AB 1576) clears Assembly Labor Committee
Walkers hit Fort Lauderdale beach Sunday in battle to conquer HIV/AIDS