Robert: Province expands eligibility of monkeypox vaccine

Today Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, announced Newfoundland and Labrador is launching a new campaign to vaccinate those at the most risk for contracting Monkeypox.

To date, vaccination was being reserved for those considered a close contact of an infected individual, however due to an increase in the supply of the Imvamune vaccine coming to the province, the CMOH says eligibility for vaccination will include 2 Spirit, transgender, and cis gender males who self-identify as belonging to the gay, bi-sexual, queer and other men who have sex with men community.

Those eligible must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have had sex with two or more partners within the last 90 days or plan to do so in the future
• Have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection in the last six months
• Have attended, volunteered, or worked in venues or other locations with sexual contact (inside or outside) in or outside the Province in the past 90 days or plan to do so in the future
• People who engage or plan to engage in sex work

Dr. J. Fitz noted that while the number of cases of Monkeypox is high among those within the 2SLBGTQA+, this information is disproportional and does not mean this is a virus that only infects those within the community. She also stressed that Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection.

For more information on the signs and symptoms of Monkeypox, click here.

Newfoundland and Labrador currently has 2 probable cases of Monkeypox.