THUNDER BAY – Monkeypox vaccine could be available in Northwestern Ontario starting next week, although health officials warn supplies may be limited at first. Medical health officer Dr. Janet DeMille said Thursday that the Thunder Bay District Health Unit is still awaiting procurement and guidance from the Department of Health regarding eligibility. “I hope that within days we will have the vaccine and any further guidance from the ministry on use,” he said. “I’ve challenged my team to start managing it next week if we can.” The region, which has yet to see any confirmed cases of monkeypox, may receive a small amount initially, although DeMille expects further shipments in August and September. “We don’t want to raise expectations if we don’t actually have the vaccine,” he said. “We see that there are some supply issues … and there are areas of the province where there is more obvious spread – and it’s very helpful for our protection if it can be controlled in those areas.” The news comes as the number of confirmed cases of monkeypox has topped 400 in Ontario, with more than three-quarters of those cases in Toronto. No deaths have been reported so far, while 11 cases have led to hospitalization, two of which require intensive care. The majority of cases so far have been identified among men who report having sex or intimate contact with other men, although health authorities have stressed that anyone can contract monkeypox. Risk factors include close contact with someone who has a monkeypox rash, sore or scab. Like other health units in the province, the TBDHU plans to invite those who meet the criteria for higher risk to join a waiting list for the vaccine. The Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay has advocated opening vaccines to high-risk groups as soon as possible. Eligibility could be opened further if the virus is found more frequently in other groups, DeMille said. “Depending on the epidemiology of where it’s spreading, we could anticipate opening more widely if the supply and the need were there,” he said. The most commonly reported symptoms include rash, oral/genital lesions, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, chills, myalgia, or fatigue. Anyone who believes they are at risk and has symptoms of monkeypox is encouraged to contact their health care provider or health facility at (807) 625-5900 or 1-888-294-6630 to speak with an infectious disease nurse. More information is available on the health facility website Health authorities, working with advocacy groups such as the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance, have so far been relatively successful in containing the spread of the virus in Ontario, DeMille said.
But he warned that the situation elsewhere shows a need for vigilance, something the World Health Organization recognized when it recently declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. “When you look at what’s happening in parts of the United States, it seems to be a little bit out of control, and that’s pretty concerning,” DeMille said. “But I think we’re in a pretty good position right now and we’ll adjust accordingly going forward.”