Vaccination against monkeypox available in Nunavik
Quebec reports 202 cases in province, but spread in Nunavik still ‘unlikely’, says local health board
People at risk of being exposed to the monkeypox virus can now receive vaccinations in Nunavik, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services said Monday. (Image from Wikimedia Commons)
Vaccination against the monkeypox virus is now available in Nunavik.
The vaccines, which help mitigate infection and spread of monkeypox, are being offered to eligible recipients in all communities there, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services announced Monday.
Monkeypox is a viral disease that can enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or the mucous membranes such as eyes, nose or mouth, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
It can also be spread through skin-to-skin contact and through intimate and sexual contact.
The Nunavik health board said people who have been in contact with someone who has monkeypox or “men and gay, bisexual, trans and queer people who have had, or will have, sexual contacts with at least one new male partner in Montreal” should consider getting vaccinated against monkeypox as the virus is circulating mainly in those groups.
The board, however, stressed the risk of monkeypox is not limited to people who are sexually active or men who have sex with men.
“Anyone who has close contact with someone who is infectious is at risk,” it said.
People in Nunavik can receive the vaccine by contacting their local community service centre or nursing station and asking for a public health or COVID-19 nurse.
The vaccine for monkeypox is the same as is used to prevent smallpox. According to the Nunavik board, it can be administered before exposure to help prevent infection, or after exposure to an infected person to help weaken symptoms. The vaccine is 85 per cent effective at preventing infection.
Symptoms of monkeypox infection are typically mild and can include headache, fever, chills, sore throat, fatigue, muscle and back pain, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, rash, and skin lesions.
As of June 29, there were 278 active cases of monkeypox across Canada, including 202 in Quebec, according to the outbreak tracker from Public Health Agency of Canada.
While the Nunavik health board is monitoring the outbreak, transmission to large groups in Nunavik is still considered to be “unlikely,” according to a message on the board’s website about infectious diseases.
“Early detection of the presence of monkeypox in a community can help limit the spread in small groups close to the infected person … The situation is not a major concern, but it is a good idea to monitor,” it said.
More information about monkeypox is available on the Nunavik health board website.
The Nunavut Department of Health has not announced yet whether it is also providing vaccinations against monkeypox.
It’s clearly speaking to a specific group here to get vaccinated as I understand. Gays and lesbians, sexual new partners, close contacts of a possible case. There’s seems to be no concern as by what I’m reading for elders, compromised immunity, and other specific group of people. If concerned it should be further clarification, and can be clarified with Contacting the Nunavik Health board.
This is I believe a top down piece widely heard and read so much so it can’t be ignored. The intent would be to distract. There are a dozen more matters that affect us more than it; But those would require more depth and a response.
Yes, like get a vaccination for trouble makers and peace disturbing drunks.