Registered pharmacist Sapana Patel holds a bottle of monkeypox vaccine at a pop-up monkeypox vaccination site on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in West Hollywood, Calif. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
WINNIPEG — Manitoba has expanded the eligibility for those who can receive the monkeypox vaccine.
The vaccine, which has been available since June in the province, was first for those who may have been exposed to monkeypox.
On Friday, the province announced those who self-identify as belonging to the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) community, can also now receive the vaccine, based on the following criteria:
- Have received a diagnosis of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and or syphilis in the past two months
- Have had two or more sexual partners in the last 21 days
- Have attended locations for sexual contact (e.g. bath houses or sex clubs) or are planning to
- Have had anonymous sex in the past 21 days or are planning to
- Engage in sex work or plan to, either as a worker or a client
Preventive immunization for eligible people can be booked at three locations in Winnipeg using the online booking tool beginning Monday, August 8:
- Klinic Community Health, 167 Sherbrook St.
- Access Winnipeg West, 280 Booth Dr.
- Our Own Health Centre, 230 Osborne St.
No confirmed cases of monkeypox have been detected in Manitoba to date.
Even though there haven’t been any confirmed cases of monkeypox in MB, it’s important for us to be prepared. That includes making the vaccine available to people who are at higher risk of being exposed. (1/4) https://t.co/nWKUDt7bBa
— Dr. Brent Roussin (@roussin_brent) August 5, 2022
