May 20, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Where you can get free Meningitis vaccines

BY TROY MASTERS  |  With 22 cases already identified, an outbreak of Invasive Meningococcal Disease, underway in Los Angeles and Orange County, has drawn Federal health investigators to the area from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   Local Public Health officials are now pivoting to messaging to ensure as many people get vaccinated against the disease as possible.

It appears that people of color are at particular risk of contracting the disease.  Of the 12 cases of invasive meningococcal disease reported by L.A. County Department of Public Health (data excludes Long Beach) 7 are Latino, 2 black, 1 asian, and 2 white. More than half of all cases are among gay or bisexual men.

Symptoms_of_MeningitisMeningococcal vaccine is recommended for all HIV positive individuals and all gay/bisexual men or men who have sex with men (MSM) who are at higher risk, including those who regularly have close or intimate contact with multiple partners or who seek partners through digital apps, particularly those who share cigarettes/marijuana or use illegal drugs.

It is possible that you can be a carrier of this easily transmitted disease, even though you do not develop it or show any symptoms.

The symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck. There are often additional symptoms, such as

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Photophobia (increased sensitivity to light)
  • Altered mental status (confusion)

The symptoms of meningococcal meningitis can appear quickly or over several days. Typically they develop within 3-7 days after exposure.  About 10 percent of cases result in death.

The disease is easily treated with a proper round of antibiotics if caught in time but can rapidly become life-threatening.

Free meningococcal vaccinations are available for all people at higher-risk at the following health centers:

Los Angeles LGBT Center
1625 N. Schrader Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
By appointment only.
To schedule an appointment, call 323-993-7500.

APLA Health & Wellness
Gleicher/Chen Health Center
3743 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Call 323-329-9900 for information.

APLA Health & Wellness
Long Beach Health Center
1043 Elm Ave., Suite 302
Long Beach, CA 90813
Call 562-432-0700 for information.

AHF Wellness Center – Hollywood
1300 N. Vermont Ave., Suite 407
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Call 866-339-2525 for information.
Clinic is located in the Doctor’s Tower building.

AHF Wellness Center – West Adams
2146 W. Adams Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90018
Call 888-836-5946 for information.

AHF Wellness Center – San Fernando Valley
4835 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 200
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Call 866-625-4559 for information.

AHF Wellness Centers – Long Beach
3500 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Long Beach, CA 90804
Call (562) 494-4983 for information.

Curtis-Tucker Public Health Center
123 W. Manchester Blvd.
Inglewood, CA 90301
Regular hours are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm.
Call (310) 419-5325 with questions.

Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Public Health (in STD Clinic)
11833 S. Wilmington Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Regular hour are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm.
Call (323) 568-8100 with questions.

Whittier Health Center
7643 S. Painter Ave.
Whittier, CA 90602
Regular hours are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm.
Call (562) 464-5350 with questions.

Pomona Public Health Center
750 S. Park Ave.
Pomona CA 91766
Regular hour are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm.
Call (909) 868-0235 with questions.

North Hollywood Health Center (in STD Clinic)
5300 Tujunga Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
Regular hour are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm.
Call (818) 766-3982 with questions.

The following providers within the City of West Hollywood provide vaccinations through health-insurance coverage; people without coverage will have to pay out-of-pocket — please contact a provider directly to confirm vaccine availability:

  • The Men’s Health Foundation and the Southern California Men’s Medical Group will offer the meningococcal vaccine to patients with or without insurance; the Men’s Health Foundation has plans to provide free vaccinations as soon as possible, once an allotment is received from L.A. County Public Health. The Foundation and Medical Group are located at 9201 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 812. For more information, please call(310) 550-1010 or email tmills@tonymillsmd.com.
in HEALTH, NEWS
Related Posts

L.A. County DA Files Over 1,000 Felony Theft Charges Under Prop 36 in Retail Crime Crackdown

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

DA Nathan Hochman Unveils Major Enforcement Effort Targeting Organized Retail Theft Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced...

LGBTQ+ Advocates Condemn Newsom Administration Over $17 Million Health Equity Cut

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

LGBT Center Calls State Funding Rollback a ‘Betrayal’ of Queer and Trans Communities LGBTQ+ advocates are sharply criticizing Governor Gavin...

Getty Villa Museum to Reopen After Months-Long Closure Due to Palisades Fire

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Limited Public Access Resumes With Major New Exhibition on Mycenaean Greece The Getty Villa Museum will reopen to the public...

Woman’s Car Stolen from UCLA Valet in Santa Monica While Visiting Husband in ICU

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Couple Left Without Vehicle During Cancer Treatment After Thief Stole Keys Brittney Mickles-McQuirter, a local Montessori school teacher, says she...

Celebrity-Owned Cannabis Dispensary The Woods WeHo Hit in Smash-and-Grab Burglary

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Shop Co-founded by Woody Harrelson, Bill Maher, and John McEnroe Targeted The high-profile cannabis dispensary co-owned by actor Woody Harrelson,...

Pasjoli to Temporarily Close for Redesign, Unveil New Menu June 12

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Santa Monica French Bistro Will Pause Service Starting June 1 Acclaimed French bistro Pasjoli will close temporarily starting on June...

Hollywood Man Charged in Deadly Attempted Robbery on 3rd Street Promenade

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Santa Monica Police Say Planned After-Hours Sale Turned Violent Hollywood resident Karen Melikyan, 41, has been arrested and charged in...

Del Rey Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Using Social Media Apps

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Man Used Apps to Contact and Coerce Children to Produce Explicit Images Mark David Wallin, 44, of the Del Rey...

Brentwood Man Convicted of Stalking New Jersey Judge with Threatening Emails

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Resident Found Guilty of Months-Long Campaign of Harassment Brentwood resident Jonathan Lipman, 36, was convicted Thursday of a federal felony...

Hollywood Park to Add Movie Studio and Olympic Broadcast Center in 2028

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Studio Will Serve as International Broadcast Center for LA28 Games Hollywood Park, the massive 300-acre mixed-use development led by Los...

Mega Producer Quincy Jones’ Custom-Built Bel Air Estate Lists for $59.995 Million

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Music Icon’s 25,000-Square-Foot Mansion, Inspired by a South African Palace The Bel Air estate of the late music legend Quincy...

Lisa Vanderpump Hosts 8th Annual World Dog Day in West Hollywood

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Thousands Attend Celebration Supporting Dog Rescue and Welfare More than 2,000 dog lovers and their four-legged companions gathered in West...

Beverly Hills Claims Two Spots on April’s List of Most Expensive U.S. Home Sales

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Real Estate Report Shows LA Leads in Active Listings Over $135 Million Two of the 10 most expensive homes sold...

Yeastie Boys and Netflix Launch Nobody Wants This Bagel Pop-Up for Emmy Season

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

Two-Day Event Rolls Through Brentwood on May 17 With Themed Menu In a pitch-perfect blend of street food and streaming...

One Arrested After Attempted Westwood Burglary; Security Guard Fires at Fleeing Suspect

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

LAPD Searching for Three Additional Suspects After Early-Morning Break-in Near UCLA One person is in custody and three others remain...