Details of where and when eligible residents will receive the single dose are still being finalized
A pre-exposure vaccine for monkeypox will begin making its way into the arms of Guelph residents next week.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health confirmed it will receive its first shipment of the PrEP vaccine next week and “expects to order and receive small quantities of the vaccine on an ongoing basis in the coming weeks from the province based on eligibility and demand.”
“We expect to be able to meet demand locally and increase our access if needed,” said Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, the health unit’s associate medical officer of health.
Provincial guidelines indicate that eligibility for the pre-exposure vaccine is limited to trans or cisgender individuals who self-identify as belonging to the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men community and at least one of the following:
• You have been diagnosed with a bacterial STI (ie chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) in the last two months;
• You have had 2 or more sexual partners in the last 21 days or may plan to;
• Have visited places of sexual contact in the last 21 days (ie bathrooms, sex clubs) or may plan to, or who work/volunteer in such settings;
• You have had anonymous sex in the last 21 days (eg, using hookup apps) or may be planning to do so;
In addition, the person lives in an area with a confirmed case, has been diagnosed with a bacterial STI in the past two months, engages in sex work or may plan to, or has had two or more sexual partners, has gone to a sex venue, or has had anonymous sex in the last 21 days.
The guidance also urges anyone who is immunocompromised, pregnant or breastfeeding to contact the health department to discuss the single dose, as they may be at higher risk of severe illness if infected with the virus.
Guelph has one confirmed case of monkeypox, a man in his 20s, announced last month.
The Imvamune vaccine has been around for quite some time. It was first approved for use by Health Canada in 2013 to protect residents against smallpox during a public health emergency.
Approval was extended in 2020 for use against monkeypox and other orthopoxvirus infections in adults who are at high risk of exposure.
The Ontario Ministry of Health said anyone with signs or symptoms of monkeypox should not receive the vaccine “as the vaccine is not indicated in the treatment of monkeypox infection.”
Details on when and where eligible residents will be able to receive the dose are still being finalized, as well as how they will be contacted.
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