Some major Canadian cities are using clinics to provide mass vaccinations against monkeypox, but so far there are no plans to do the same in British Columbia.
The provincial health ministry said it was monitoring what was happening in Quebec and Ontario, where vaccination efforts were under way in Montreal, Ottawa and other cities.
On Friday, health officials said the total number of confirmed infections had reached 168 across Canada. Of these, 141 are in Quebec, 21 are in Ontario and four are in Alberta.
Two were confirmed in BC
The ministry told CTV News that the provincial health officer and the BC Disease Control Center are working closely with provincial, territorial and federal “coordinated outbreak response” agencies to manage the disease.
“We have a provincial team to respond to the epidemic here in British Columbia to closely monitor and manage the small number of cases reported so far,” a spokesman said.
WHAT IS BEING DONE IN NO
What this answer seems to be so far is to ensure that cases are reported. Healthcare providers must use national case report forms, and laboratory test protocols must comply with those of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
In addition, vaccination strategies are coordinated with officials outside British Columbia to “ensure that we prevent the spread of the virus as effectively as possible”.
As for vaccines, they are currently only available in British Columbia for close contact with confirmed cases, but the ministry said it was “working with at-risk communities to determine the need for broader vaccination campaigns”.
VACCINE CAMPAIGNS OTHERWISE
These campaigns, if necessary, could be similar to those in Montreal and Toronto, the ministry said.
In Montreal, the city’s vaccination campaign was expanded last week to include all men who have sex with men, given that many cases involve sexual contact between these groups. However, monkeypox can spread to anyone who has had close physical contact with an infected person, officials warn.
In Toronto, vaccine clinics opened over the weekend for people over the age of 18 who are transgender or cisgender and identify as men and belong to the “community of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men,” regional officials said. . .
To be eligible, they must be either: be in contact with a person who has tested positive for monkeypox; have had two or more sexual partners in the last 21 days; have been diagnosed with certain sexually transmitted infections in the last 21 days; have visited bathrooms, sex clubs or other places of sexual contact during the last 21 days; or have had anonymous or casual sex in the last 21 days.
Ottawa is also administering the vaccine to those who are considered ‘top priority’, based on the province’s eligibility data. Local public health officials said these people would be implemented directly.
“RESTRICTED RECORD”
As for why injections are not available to everyone, the British Columbia Department of Health said it was simply not enough.
“Health Canada maintains a limited supply of a vaccine that protects against monkeypox,” the ministry said.
This vaccine is called Imvamune and was originally developed to prevent the virus that causes smallpox. Approved for adult use in Canada only.
According to the National Immunization Advisory Committee, those who were vaccinated against smallpox when it was routinely administered may already have some protection against monkeypox. Younger Canadian adults are unlikely to receive the vaccine, as most campaigns ended in the 1970s and vaccines were given only in emergencies.
Earlier this month, the NACI recommended its use only for people who have been exposed to a confirmed or probable case or have been in conditions where transmission is known to occur.
For now, the vaccine is available through Health Canada to provincial public health authorities if there are cases of monkeypox, but is not available to the general public, BC health officials said.
SYMPTOMS OF THE MONKEY STAR
Monkeypox is a viral disease transmitted through direct contact with contaminated objects, people and animals.
Symptoms include lesions or sores on the skin, including inside the mouth and on the genitals and perianal area. People with monkeypox usually also experience fever and swollen lymph nodes, says Health Canada.
The first signs include headache, muscle aches, back pain, chills and exhaustion, but some mild cases may remain undiagnosed.
Despite transmission in Canada, the disease is still considered rare.
The best way to prevent transmission is to avoid those with infection. Those who are diagnosed should isolate themselves if possible, and cases should be reported. Hand washing and hand sanitizer can also help.
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