Vancouver monkeypox vaccine clinics held ahead of Pride celebrations

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has rolled out a monkeypox vaccine program ahead of this year’s Pride celebrations.

Currently, B.C. is reporting 48 cases of the virus in the province, which so far has mostly affected men in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. However, experts have stressed the virus can affect anyone and that it is not isolated to just one group.

VCH Medical Health Officer Dr. Mark Lysyshyn says it’s best practice to get the vaccine early.

“Ultimately, it’s better if people get protected before Pride because it does take some time for the vaccine to start working, typically about seven to 10 days,” he explained.

“As we get ready for Vancouver’s Pride celebrations, we really want to make sure that everybody at risk has opportunities to protect themselves with the vaccine.”

VCH has partnered with the Health Initiative for Men (HIM) in the greater Vancouver area to offer vaccines at various sites. That including special pop-ups, including on Davie Street before and during Vancouver Pride.

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The latest figures from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows there are more than 680 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Canada. The majority of those cases is in Quebec, followed by Ontario.

On Saturday, the World Health Organization said the expanding spread of the virus in more than 70 countries was an “extraordinary” situation that now qualifies as a global emergency.

Lysyshyn is urging anyone who has symptoms to see a health official right away.

“People who are affected by monkeypox — people who might have fever or new skin rashes — they really need to get that checked out by their family doctor and avoid contact with others until they figure out what’s going on,” he explained.

Vancouver Coastal Health says symptoms of monkeypox typically last two to four weeks and can occur in two stages.

Get to know the symptoms of a monkeypox infection!

Typically, symptoms last 2 to 4 weeks and may occur in two stages. The first stage includes flu-like symptoms then, in the second stage, a rash develops. Some people only get the rash.

To learn more: https://t.co/xR8ehbpnIA pic.twitter.com/N0Xzm4OgX1

— Vancouver Coastal Health (@VCHhealthcare) July 22, 2022

The first includes flu-like symptoms, while a rash is said to develop in the second. Some people only experience a rash, VCH adds.

The health authority notes the virus “does not spread easily from person-to-person, adding, “All identified local transmission has involved prolonged skin-to-skin contact, which is suspected to be the primary way the virus is spread.”

The shot that is being used in Canada is the Imvamune vaccine. The BC Centre for Disease Control says the vaccine helps the body “build immunity without getting sick.”

The vaccine can be given to an individual before they are exposed to the monkeypox virus, as well as after exposure “to prevent illness or severe outcomes.”

You can find more information about vaccine clinics and appointments here.