Toronto Public Health and community partners hosting monkeypox vaccination clinics to protect at-risk individuals

Monkeypox Vaccine

Toronto Public Health (TPH) continues to work closely with community partners to host vaccination clinics to protect those most at risk of contracting the monkeypox virus. Over the next week, Toronto Public Health will offer at least 24 vaccination opportunities to protect residents and help curb virus spread.

TPH and community partners will be hosting two clinics tomorrow, Saturday June 18:
•       The 519, 519 Church St., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•       Metro Hall, 55 John St., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Clinics will offer vaccination to those who meet the provincial criteria. The full list of clinics for eligible residents is available on the City of Toronto Monkeypox webpage: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/monkeypox/.

TPH continues to follow federal and provincial guidance on the administration of Imvamune vaccines to protect at-risk populations against the monkeypox virus. Based on Ontario Ministry of Health guidelines, clinics are intended for people 18 years old and older who are transgender or cisgender individuals who self-identify as a man and belonging to the community of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) community, as well as at least one of the following:
•       Identify as a contact of someone who recently tested positive for monkeypox
•       Have had two or more sexual partners within the past 21 days, or may be planning to
•       Have been diagnosed with a chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis infection over the past two months.
•       Have attended bath houses, sex clubs and other venues for sexual contact within the past 21 days; this includes workers and volunteers
•       Have had anonymous or casual sex in the past 21 days; for example, after using an online dating or hookup app, engaged in or planning to engage in sex work

Monkeypox spreads person-to-person through contact with infected lesions, skin scabs, body fluids or respiratory secretions. It can also be transmitted by contact with materials contaminated with the virus (e.g. clothing, bedding).

Anyone can get monkeypox, but during this outbreak, in a number of countries, gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men have been affected.

Monkeypox symptoms include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes followed by the development of a rash or lesions. A rash or lesion will often appears within a few days after symptoms begin, starting on the face and spreading to other parts of the body. Most people recover from monkeypox on their own without treatment. Vaccination is being offered to protect against monkeypox virus and can help reduce serious symptoms. Like with most vaccines, the Imvamune vaccine can take up to two weeks for residents to be protected from the serious consequences linked to the monkeypox virus.

TPH is asking residents who have these signs and symptoms to report them to their health care provider as soon as possible. Close contacts of people suspected or confirmed to have a monkeypox infection are advised to self-monitor for symptoms for 21 days after their last exposure. If symptoms develop, they should self-isolate, seek care and get tested.

Health care providers are reminded that individuals suspected of monkeypox infection must be reported to Public Health Ontario. As with many other diseases spread through close contact, people can lower their risk by maintaining physical distance, frequent hand washing and respiratory hygiene, including masking. Common household disinfectants can kill the monkeypox virus.

Last week, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) released interim guidance (https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci/guidance-imvamune-monkeypox/guidance-imvamune-monkeypox-en.pdf) on use of the Imvamune vaccine in the context of monkeypox outbreaks.

Public Health Ontario updates monkeypox data in Ontario on Tuesdays and Fridays. As of Tuesday, June 13, there have been 18 laboratory confirmed cases of monkeypox reported in Toronto, with 9 probable cases and 14 suspect cases currently under investigation. More information is available on the Public Health Ontario website: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Diseases-and-Conditions/Infectious-Diseases/Vector-Borne-Zoonotic-Diseases/Monkeypox.

TPH continues to follow up with anyone thought to be exposed to monkeypox. TPH also continues to work closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Public Health Ontario, and the Ontario Ministry of Health. TPH has communicated with local physicians to provide information on symptoms, laboratory testing and diagnosis, infection control precautions, treatment and reporting requirements for monkeypox.

More information about monkeypox is available on the City of Toronto’s Monkeypox webpage: www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/monkeypox/.

Residents can also find information about monkeypox on the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website (www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2022/05/public-health-agency-of-canada-confirms-2-cases-of-monkeypox.html) or through Toronto Public Health’s Health Connections calling 416-338-7600 or online: www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/toronto-public-health-echat/.

Additional information is also available on the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance (GMSH) website: gmsh.ca/monkeypox/.

Quotes:

“Thank you to Toronto Public Health, The 519 and all community partners for working together to help host monkeypox vaccination clinics to help protect people against this virus. I encourage people to listen to the public health advice and to get vaccinated if they believe they are at risk of contracting this virus.”
– Mayor John Tory

“I am grateful to Toronto Public Health and our community partners for ensuring the vaccine is accessible to people who seem to be at higher risk of contracting monkeypox. Providing healthcare without blame or stigma is critical for to reduce the spread and everyone safe.”
– Councillor Robin Buxton Potts (Toronto Centre)

“Thank you to The 519 and all other community partners for their hard work to provide vaccination opportunities to protect residents from monkeypox and reduce opportunities for virus spread of in our community. Together your efforts will help people to be aware of this virus and symptoms to look for so residents can take steps to protect themselves, and our community.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Medical Officer of Health

SOURCE City of Toronto

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