ORLANDO | Health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month began recommending a meningococcal vaccine to help combat an outbreak of the disease mostly being found in gay and bisexual men.
Currently, Florida Health has reported 48 cases of meningococcal disease, with at least seven deaths linked to the disease, since the start of the year. The highest number of cases is in Orange County with 14.
Because of this, the Florida Department of Health is providing meningococcal vaccines, as well as Hepatitis A vaccines, to TECHealth — the Episcopal Church Health Initiative promoting health and education to close disparities in Black, Brown and vulnerable communities — who will be providing them to the public free of charge, no insurance needed, at the Epsicopal Churches of Christ the King and Jesus de Nazaret, located at 26 Willow Dr. in Orlando on July 15, from 5-8 p.m.
“Right now our community is experiencing an outbreak and the churches are committed to promoting public health, protection from unnecessary illness and suffering, and healing from disease and sickness for all our neighbors and families,” says Rev. Dr. José Rodríguez. “The event is open to all of our neighbors who are at high risk for infection. Community leaders and members will be receiving this vaccine side by side to both normalize and promote vaccination but also to lead by example in our community.”
While the outbreak is predominantly impacting gay and bisexual men, the vaccine event is open to all. For more information on the event and vaccines, please contact Ariel Rivas at ariel.rivas@iglesiaorlando.com or Henry Mendoza at outreach@iglesiaorlando.com.
