On Sunday, Toronto Public Health, in collaboration with Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance, opened the first monkeypox vaccine clinic in the city.
“Beginning tomorrow, Toronto Public Health (TPH) will hold the first of a series of community-based vaccination clinics to curb the spread of the monkeypox virus,” a City of Toronto news release reads.
According to the news release, the first to be vaccinated will be “high-risk contacts,” specifically those employed at Toronto’s various bathhouses.
TPH is also recommending those who have a lesion or rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, or swollen lymph nodes to self-isolate and report to their local health care provider.
“TPH is asking residents who have these signs and symptoms to report them to their health care provider as soon as possible. Close contacts of people suspected or confirmed to have a monkeypox infection are advised to self-monitor for symptoms for 21 days after their last exposure,” the news release continues.
“If symptoms develop, they should self-isolate, seek care and get tested. Health care providers are reminded that individuals suspected of monkeypox infection must be reported to Public Health Ontario.”
Despite the recommendation, TPH acknowledges that those who come down with a case of monkeypox usually recover without any treatment at all and that monkeypox isn’t spread easily.
Moreover, TPH has only confirmed 11 cases of monkeypox, primarily in the gay community, as of Friday, June 10.
It appears that TPH is following the federal government’s lead, which recently elevated monkeypox to Level 2 status, which will allow for mandatory monkeypox quarantining down the road.
As per a Health Canada announcement, “In the current outbreak, those at risk of infection are those who have had close or intimate contact with a person who has monkeypox.”
“During your travel, you may be subject to procedures at your destination put in place to limit the spread of monkeypox, such as isolation, should you become infected. You may have limited access to timely and appropriate health care should you become ill and may experience delays in returning home.”
Health Canada also said they are working with provincial governments much in the same way they did with COVID, suggesting that Canadians may see more public health recommendations and even requirements in the near future.
