Hamilton hosting proactive pop-up monkeypox vaccination clinic this week
Published June 29, 2022 at 9:30 am
Hamilton Public Health is hosting a proactive pop-up monkeypox vaccination clinic for at-risk community members on Thursday (June 30) at the East End clinic at 247 Centennial Pkwy North.
The clinic for those 18-and-over is operating from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. by appointment only.
“While the risk to Hamiltonians from this infection remains very low and there are no known cases of the monkeypox virus confirmed locally, Hamilton Public Health Services is working closely with the Ontario Ministry of Health, Toronto Public Health and other Public Health Units in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area to ensure there are proactive actions taken in response to the virus,” said public health.
Hamilton is following federal and provincial guidance on the administration of Imvamune vaccines.
The clinic is intended for community members who self-identify as a man and have sex with other men, as well as at least one of the following based on provincial guidelines:
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- Identify as a contact of an individual who recently tested positive for monkeypox.
- Have had two or more sexual partners within the past three weeks (21 days) or may be planning to.
- Have been diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis over the past two months.
- Have attended bathhouses, sex clubs, and other venues for sexual contact within the past three weeks; this includes workers and volunteers.
- Have had anonymous or casual sex in the past three weeks
These at-risk populations have been identified based on Ontario Ministry of Health guidelines.
Individuals can call the Public Health hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 to book an appointment.
“This clinic is part of our proactive plan to respond to the monkeypox virus and reduce opportunities for the virus to spread in our community,” said Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Medical Officer of Health. “I would encourage at-risk community members to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones from the serious outcomes linked to this virus.”
Monkeypox was identified in Nigeria in 2017 after more than 40 years with no reported cases. It is a rare disease caused by a virus that is normally found endemic in central and western Africa.
It was first identified in monkeys, but its origins remain unknown.
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