A new community-developed monkeypox vaccine locator tool developed by Building Healthy Online CommunitiesExit Disclaimer (BHOC) with public and private partners is available at MPOXvaxmap.orgExit Disclaimer. BHOC is a consortium of public health leaders, gay dating websites, and app owners who are working together to support HIV and STI prevention online. BHOC’s additional monkeypox resources include:

• A social media toolkitExit Disclaimer for sharing the monkeypox vaccine locator tool
• A BHOC monkeypox information pageExit Disclaimer with links to CDC information and guidance

BHOC Director Jen Hecht said about 600 vaccine sites have been entered and vetted, and more sites are being added. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for people to find a vaccine by simply entering their ZIP code and for dating apps to be able to share the information with their users.

“We’re well aware that states and local health departments are in the process of gathering vaccines, so they may or may not have inventory available at this very moment,” Hecht said. “If it’s not available right now, users can check back. In some cases, health departments have also been able to say, here’s a waitlist or here’s a way to sign up for text alerts. Wherever this is available, we have included that information as well.”

Public Health Partnerships

Hecht said BHOC gathered vaccine location information by working with health departments and member organizations such as the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)Exit Disclaimer, where they have relationships with state health departments.

“We also asked volunteers, other people in public health, and people who have been affected by monkeypox to submit information via a contributor form,” she said. “We have dozens of volunteers who signed up to vet that information for accuracy.”

“I also want to shout out a public health partner who we worked with, Grant Roth. We partnered with him to allow users to simply just drop in their ZIP code and easily find a site near them.”

Hecht said BHOC is crowdsourcing data to add more vaccine sites, and users can contribute by entering a vaccine location in the tool that will be vetted for accuracy. It is important for individuals and HIV service organizations that are impacted or potentially impacted by monkeypox to stay informed, she added. The BHOC website has harm reduction information and links users to CDC resources.

“We want to empower folks so they feel like they can make their own choices to stay healthy based on access to accurate information,” she said.

Federal Monkeypox Resources

Follow HIV.gov’s Monkeypox and HIV Resources page for the latest information and federal resources. Additional resources that can assist with providing information to people with and at risk for HIV include:

• CDC Monkeypox and HIV FAQs—CDC offers the latest information on how monkeypox affects those with and at risk for HIV.
• CDC Fact Sheets—Monkeypox Information for Teens and Young Adults, as well as strategies for reducing the risk of monkeypox during sex. (available in English and Spanish)