Show Pride by Getting Mpox Vaccine

Credit: facebook.com/RocPride

I noticed that Gay Days at Walt Disney World in Orlando were sold out.

With all the legislation happening against LGBTQ people, drag shows, transgender health care, we’re still out there.

Visibility is one way to show pride, and visibility is exactly what Pride is.

But another way to show pride is to take care of your health. What I want to talk about is getting ready for Pride Month in Rochester.

A good way to get ready for Pride for men who have sex with men is to get vaccinated against Mpox, what we used to call monkeypox.

The vaccine is a two-dose series, with each shot given one month apart.

There's still enough time for Rochester people to get started with the vaccine series and have that second dose one month later before Pride events in mid-July. One dose, though, provides good immunity but for a shorter term than the two doses.

But even if you get just one dose before Pride, I'd say you'd be doing a good job taking care of your health and I strongly recommend it. I’ve been vaccinated. I had a sore arm for a couple of days after the first injection and nothing after the second. The vaccine is well-tolerated, it’s safe and it works.

In anticipation of Pride, I say let's take care of our health and get vaccinated.

The vaccine is free.

You can get vaccinated at Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave. You don’t need insurance.