ATLANTA — On Friday, the Georgia Department of Health held a monkeypox vaccination clinic at the North DeKalb Health Center, where they gave out just under 300 vaccines.
Channel 2′s Audrey Washington went to the event where she spoke with some of the vaccine recipients.
“It was super quick and easy,” Darnell McAlpin said. “I didn’t even feel it. They were like, ‘We’re done,’ and I was OK.”
McAlpin was one of more than 200 people who made an appointment and showed up at the North DeKalb Health Center on Friday for a mass monkeypox virus vaccination clinic.
“It felt really important to not just keep myself safe but to do my part and not spread it,” McAlpin said.
McAlpin says it was hearing Camille Seaton’s story that made him really concerned about the virus.
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“Seeing someone in Georgia have it and on her face and the scarring and what monkeypox does to you made me even more willing to get the shot.”
Thursday, Channel 2 Action News reported on Camille Seaton’s recovery. She is the first woman in Georgia to contract the monkeypox virus.
“I just want y’all to know that I did not do anything sexual to contract this disease,” Seaton said. “This thing is spreading. It’s here.”
Eric Nickens with the DeKalb County Board of Health says health officials are working on getting as many people vaccinated as possible.
“We opened appointments Thursday morning for 240 slots, and those filled up in 15 minutes,” Nickens said.
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Even though the vaccine is limited, there are plans for more vaccination clinics in the coming weeks.
Thursday, the Biden Administration declared the monkeypox virus a public health emergency.
According to the CDC, there are 6,000 cases nationwide and nearly 600 here in Georgia. Doctors say anyone can contract the virus through close contact.
Anyone interested in making an appointment can register here.
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