Toronto 
Alberta has expanded monkeypox vaccine eligibility to help curb the spread of the disease, World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern.
Eligible Albertans can book appointments for Imvamune, the vaccine for smallpox and monkeypox beginning today.
Alberta residents 18 years and older are eligible for the monkeypox vaccine if they are:
- Transgender, cisgender or two-spirit individuals who self-identify as belonging to the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) community and who meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Have received a recent (in the last six months) diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection.
- Are planning to have, or in the past 90 days had, sex outside of a mutually monogamous relationship.
- Have attended venues for sexual contact within the past 90 days (e.g., bath houses, sex clubs) or may be planning to, or who work/volunteer in these settings.
- Any sexual contacts of the individuals described above.
- Staff and volunteers in a social setting or venue or event where sexual activities between men (individuals described above) may take place.
The monkeypox vaccine will be available beginning July 29th, starting in Edmonton and Calgary as the vaccine supply is limited at this time. Those who are eligible and interested in receiving the monkeypox vaccine must call Health Link at 1-866-301-2668 to book an appointment.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, said in a news release, “Although anyone can catch the monkeypox virus through close physical contact, during the current outbreak, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men have been impacted the most, especially those with new or multiple sexual partners. Those eligible for the monkeypox vaccine should consider getting a dose and at the same time take other recommended measures to reduce the risk of exposure.”
Alberta is asking close contacts of people suspected or confirmed to have a monkeypox infection to self-monitor for 21 days after their last exposure and isolate if symptoms appear.
Currently, there are 745 confirmed cases in Canada including 12 in Alberta.
