More monkeypox vaccine clinics in Hamilton scheduled

The public health unit in Hamilton is holding monkeypox vaccine clinics every Thursday this month.

The disease has primarily affected men who have sex with men, and Hamilton residents who are part of social groups identified as being at risk of exposure are eligible to get one 0.5ml dose of the Imvamune vaccine by injection. Hamilton Public Health (HPH) began offering doses at the East End Public Health Clinic (247 Centennial Pkwy N, Unit 8, Hamilton).

Per the city’s website, clinics are scheduled for Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25. The same link also contains a list of eligibility criteria. At this time, cisgender women are not eligible for the vaccine unless identified as a close contact of a case.

Individuals can call the HPH hotline at 905-974-9848, opt. 7 to book an appointment.

Public Health Ontario says Hamilton has had nine of the 423 confirmed cases in Ontario, along with one of 10 probable cases. However, the city is also close to Toronto, where 77.8 per cent of all confirmed cases. Only two of the cases provincewide have been diagnosed in women.

In Montreal, which has had close to 300 cases, the medical officer of health Dr. Mylène Drouin has emphasized vaccination as a harm reduction strategy. Drouin said vaccination against the disease remains the best strategy to reduce transmission in that city’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

The Imvamune vaccine can be used for protection against monkeypox before an individual is exposed to the virus, or after they have been exposed but have yet to experience symptoms.

— with files from The Canadian Press