A public health advisory issued this week revealed that a monkeypox vaccine is now available from Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD). The notice was sent to “Local Health System Partners” in the Sudbury jurisdiction by PHSD’s Medical Health Officer, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe. PHSD said Imvamune is a live, attenuated (attenuated), non-replicating vaccine used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against monkeypox. Health Canada first approved the use of this vaccine in 2013 for active immunization against smallpox in a public health emergency, the health unit said. Sutcliffe’s advice said the Imvamune vaccine is available to people aged 18 and over who are considered to be at high risk of exposure. Broadly, this would include transgender or cis-gender people who self-identify as gay or bisexual, or men who otherwise have sex with men, can receive Imvamune, the notice said. Full details of eligibility criteria are available on the public health website. People who are immunocompromised, pregnant or breastfeeding may be at higher risk of serious illness from monkeypox infection, the health unit said. Anyone in these categories should contact Public Health Sudbury to consider pre-exposure prophylaxis if they are at risk of contracting monkeypox. PHSD said the vaccine can be used as post-exposure treatment (PEP) for people with recent exposure to high-risk monkeypox. A single dose of the vaccine should be offered within four days (up to 14 days) of the date of the last exposure to a confirmed or probable case of monkeypox. The advisory also said eligible people who want to get a pre-exposure vaccine should call Public Health at 705-522-9200, ext. 482 (toll free 1-866-522-9200) or Réseau ACCESS Network at 705-688-0500. Individuals can also call Public Health at ext. 772 if they are looking for PEP. For case management and contact information, contact the Infectious Disease Control program at 705-522-9200, ext. 772 (toll free 1-866-522-9200).
