Toronto Public Health (TPH) and its community partners will conduct smallpox vaccination clinics to help protect “people at risk.”
TPH said there will be 24 vaccination opportunities over the next week to “protect residents and help curb the spread of the virus.”
Read more: Toronto Public Health confirms first case of monkeypox virus
There will be two vaccination clinics on Saturday.
The first will be held at The 519, located at 519 Church Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The other will be held at Metro Hall, located at 55 John Street from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
According to TPH, the clinics will offer vaccination to those who “meet the provincial criteria.” You can find more information on the city’s website.
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. @ TOPublicHealth and community partners hosting smallpox vaccination clinics to protect people at risk
News release: https://t.co/W9XSEx8N4l
– City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) June 17, 2022
According to data released by Public Health Ontario, as of June 13, there had been 18 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Toronto. There are also nine probable cases and 14 suspicious cases under investigation.
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TPH said it follows federal and provincial guidelines on the administration of Imvamune vaccines.
According to TPH, the clinics are aimed at people 18 years of age or older who are “transgender or cisgender individuals who identify as male and belong to the community of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.” at least one of the following:
- They have been identified as close contact with someone who recently tested positive for monkeypox
- You have had two or more sexual partners in the last 21 days or are planning to do so
- Chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis infection have been diagnosed in the last two months
- Has attended sex clubs, baths or other sexual contact sites for the past 21 days
- Have had anonymous or casual sex for the past 21 days, including after using an online or online dating application, or are participating in or planning to have sex
TPH said the virus spreads between people through contact with infected lesions, skin crusts, body fluids or through respiratory secretions.
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It can also be spread by contact with contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing.
“Anyone can suffer from monkeypox, but during this outbreak, in several countries, gays, bisexuals and men who have sex with men have been affected,” the statement said.
Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, exhaustion followed by the development of a rash or injury.
Read more: Monkeypox Patients Should Be Isolated, Healthcare Workers Should Wear PPE: Ontario Public Health
“A rash or lesion will often appear within a few days after the onset of symptoms, starting on the face and spreading to other parts of the body,” the statement said. “Most people recover from monkeypox on their own without treatment.”
TPH said anyone with these symptoms is asked to report them to their healthcare provider as soon as possible.
In a statement, Toronto Mayor John Tory thanked TPH and its community partners for “working together to help host monkeypox vaccination clinics to help protect people from the virus.”
“I encourage people to listen to public health advice and get vaccinated if they think they are at risk for the virus,” he said.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.