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HONOLULU (Hawaii News Now) – Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center is trying to get ahead of the rising cases of rabies.
On Wednesday The Ministry of Health announced four more casesIt brought the number of people arrested in Hawaii to 22.
WCCC now operates a monkey disease hotline To answer questions, provide tests and vaccinations, and visit especially vulnerable communities.
For resources and vaccination details, call Waianae Comp’s monkeypox hotline at (808) 427-0442.
“This particular health emergency is the most challenging health emergency I’ve ever worked on,” said Jacob Shafer, director of infection control at the health center.
Shaffer was difficult to text. He and other health leaders must avoid stigmatizing vulnerable populations and spreading unnecessary fear.
“It’s very clear now, the people at risk are gay and bisexual men, in medical terms, men who have sex with men,” Shafer said.
But we do know that anyone can get monkeypox. Everyone is at risk, regardless of age, gender or sexual orientation.
Shaffer is part of that community. They are. Eligible for vaccination And he was one of the first to get the shot. He said the symptoms are generally milder than those associated with Covid-19.
“Fatigue and maybe some arm pain where you’ve been vaccinated are really the only side effects that we see happening long term,” Shafer said.
“There is a vaccine and a treatment,” said DOH Acting Communications Director Katie Arita-Chang. “The public health system is little prepared to handle monkeypox.”
While monkeypox is completely different from Covid, the DOH’s Covid outbreak has taught them a thing or two about messaging and vaccine distribution.
“I feel like our role here is very relevant to our community,” said Alisha Kahukele, who works on the WCCC’s Covid-19 hotline.
“Most call because they’re worried,” she said. “That’s why they want the vaccine. So that’s when we tell them if they’re eligible or not. Those who are eligible want to get an appointment right away.”
Copyright 2022 Hawaii News Now. all rights reserved.
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