Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is planning monkeypox vaccine clinics and has begun offering vaccinations to residents at “highest risk.”
Dr. Vera Etches, an Ottawa health medical officer, said the province provided about 100 doses over the weekend, which was enough to meet immediate demand.
However, during Monday’s health board meeting, Etches said he hoped interest in getting the vaccine could increase as more people learn it is available. That’s where the clinics would come in, which have also been done in Toronto and Montreal.
“In addition to access through our sexual health center, we are also planning additional clinics with partners who can better connect with the most at-risk communities,” Etches said.
Public health reported the first positive case of smallpox in Ottawa on June 10.
Since then, that person has recovered and OPH followed up with close contacts about post-exposure vaccination, Etches said. The risk to the general public remains “very low,” he added.
Following instructions from the Ministry of Health, OPH administered the Imvamune vaccine to the high-risk contacts in the confirmed case.
An Ontario Public Health summary of monkeypox indicates that a confirmed case and two suspected infectious diseases have been reported in Ottawa since June 16. Thirty confirmed cases have been reported across the province.
Deep and “painful” pustules.
Virologist Earl Brown said the smallpox of the monkey has a key feature: large lesions that usually begin on the head and hands, but can spread to other parts of the body.
“They are very uncomfortable and seemingly painful,” said the University of Ottawa professor emeritus.
“They have very deep pustules, they are on your skin and they are small volcanoes because they are full of clear liquid.”
We will begin offering vaccinations this weekend to people of the highest priority based on the latest provincial eligibility criteria. You will be contacted directly by those who are eligible. (5/7)
– @OttawaHealth
These sores dry out and then fall “virus-laden,” Brown said. This is one of the ways in which the virus can spread, but the infection can be through close contact, as well as exposed skin, the respiratory tract, or mucous membranes around the eyes, mouth, and nose of a person. person.
The rare disease comes from the same family of smallpox viruses, which the World Health Organization declared eradicated in 1980, but is “much milder,” Brown said.
Information session on Thursday
Infectious disease experts say the LGBTQ community, especially men who have sex with men, has a disproportionate risk of infection in this outbreak. Healthcare or laboratory workers who work directly with orthopoxviruses may also be at risk.
The Ottawa AIDS Committee will hold an information session on monkeypox on Thursday, where Dr. Paul MacPherson will be available to answer questions from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Cory Wong, the committee’s support services manager, said there was a “sense of urgency” among those using his services and that he had already raised many questions about when the vaccine would be available.
“It’s very relevant to the people we work with, including men who have sex with men, racialized community members, and people living with HIV with a compromised immune system,” Wong said. there are concerns in the community about stigma.
ACO has been keeping a close eye on how Monkey Pox is progressing and we have invited Dr. Paul MacPherson to offer community partners and service workers a zoom educational workshop and update Monkey Pox status. pic.twitter.com/RO0d3WrFRN
– @ACOttawa
Brown was quick to point out that smallpox is not a sexually transmitted disease, but that sex puts people in close contact. Those at high risk should watch for symptoms and have unusual rashes reviewed by a healthcare professional.
Right now, officials are taking a specific approach to vaccination, the virologist said.
As for the rest of Ontarians, they can rely on the lessons learned during the pandemic.
“We are quite sensitive to the COVID-19 that is still in progress,” Brown said. “Distancing and hand washing will also go a long way in stopping the spread of monkeypox.”