A pre-exposure vaccine for monkeypox will start going into the arms of Guelph residents next week.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health confirmed they will get their first shipment of the Imvamune prophylaxis (PrEP) vaccine next week, and "expect to order and receive small amounts of the vaccine on a rolling basis over the coming weeks from the province based on the eligibility and demand."
"We expect to be able to meet the demand locally and increase our access if needed," said Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, the health unit's associate medical officer of health.
Provincial guidelines show eligibility for the pre-exposure vaccine is limited to trans or cis-gender individuals who self-identify as belonging to the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men community and at least one of the following:
• Have received a diagnosis of bacterial STI (i.e., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) in the past two months;
• Have had 2 or more sexual partners within the past 21 days or may be planning to;
• Have attended venues for sexual contact within the past 21 days (i.e., bath houses, sex clubs) or may be planning to, or who work/volunteer in these settings;
• Have had anonymous sex in the past 21 days (e.g., using hookup apps) or may be planning to;
In addition to that, the person lives in an area with a confirmed case, has been diagnosed with a bacterial STI in the last two months, engage in sex work or may be planning to, or have had two or more sexual partners, went to a venue for sexual contact or had anonymous sex in the last 21 days.
The guidance also asks for anyone who is immunocompromised, pregnant or breastfeeding to contact the health unit for consideration for the single dose, as they may be at higher risk of severe illness if infected by the virus.
Guelph has had one confirmed case of monkeypox, a man in his 20's announced last month.
The Imvamune vaccine has been around for quite some time. It was first approved for use by Health Canada in 2013 for protecting residents against smallpox in a public health emergency.
The approval was expanded in 2020 for use against monkeypox and other orthopoxvirus infections for adults who are at a high risk of exposure.
Ontario's Ministry of Health said anyone with signs or symptoms of monkeypox should not get the vaccine, "as the vaccine is not indicated in the treatment of monkeypox infection."
Details on when and where eligible residents will be able to get the dose are still being finalized, as well as how they will be contacted.
