San Diego City Wire

San Diego County News Center

Pride festival goers can receive Mpox vaccines, relax in the senior cool zone, and greet County Library workers who will be honored as grand marshals during the annual Pride Parade this weekend. The County is also offering a variety of community services and activities during the Pride Festival.

County Public Health Services, in partnership with Champions for Health, will provide Mpox vaccines as well as COVID-19 and Meningococcal vaccinations on Saturday, July 20 between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 21 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their health insurance card if they have one, but insurance is not required. No appointment is necessary.

The JYNNEOS vaccine helps protect against Mpox, which has seen an increase in recent weeks in San Diego. County public health officials advise individuals who previously received only a single dose of JYNNEOS to get a second dose to maximize protection and reduce symptoms if they contract the virus.

The Mpox vaccine can also be administered after exposure to help prevent infection or lessen symptoms if infection occurs. Additional preventive measures include avoiding close skin-to-skin contact with someone who has Mpox.

The County will also offer rapid HIV testing at the Pride Festival on Saturday from noon to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Information on PrEP, Doxy-PEP, Mpox, and no-cost Take Me Home Testing for at-home HIV and STD testing will be available.

County public health doctors recommend knowing your HIV status through testing. Effective treatments are available for those who test positive for HIV, while pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicines can help those who test negative but are vulnerable remain HIV-negative. Resources are accessible via the County’s Getting to Zero app.

The County’s Aging & Independence Services will provide information on resources for older adults at the Senior Cool Zone on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., offering fans and refreshments as part of this free cooling area.

County library workers will serve as grand marshals for the parade, kicking off the Pride festivities. During the festival, County Libraries will participate in the Lit Café to assist people in signing up for library cards and offer activities such as story time and crafts.

Other County departments will join the parade contingent and participate in various activities throughout the event.

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