Ottawa Public Health receives ‘very limited supply’ of monkeypox vaccines

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is offering and administering monkeypox vaccines to increase protection for those who have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.

In a Twitter thread published on Friday, June 17, OPH said the Ontario Ministry of Health provided the local health authorities with a “very limited” supply of vaccines that offer protection for those at the highest risk.

OPH will start offering vaccination this weekend to the highest priority individuals based on the latest provincial eligibility criteria, the health agency said.

Those who are eligible will be contacted directly.

“As supply increases, we will continue to work with community partners to expand access to anyone eligible,” OPH wrote. “We have been [and] will continue to follow up with all close contacts.”

According to Public health Ontario, there were 30 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Ontario between May 20 and June 16.

The majority (26 of 30) were reported by Toronto Public Health, and all of the cases were in male patients.

The average age of confirmed cases is 39 years of age.

The most commonly reported symptoms include rash, oral/genital lesions, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, chills, myalgia and fatigue.

As well, there are four probably cases and 23 suspected cases.

The 27 probably and suspect cases include six female and 21 males range from 20 to 71 years of age and were reported by six public health units.

So far, OPH has one confirmed case of the virus and two suspected cases it is looking into.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit has one suspected case.

So, let’s chat about Monkeypox.
Last week we shared information on the first confirmed case of Monkeypox in Ottawa. We have been closely monitoring the situation and at this time, the risk to the general public remains very low. (1/7)

— Ottawa Public Health (@OttawaHealth) June 17, 2022