Hamilton public health to host second monkeypox vaccination clinic Thursday

A day after confirming the city's first case of monkeypox, Hamilton public health has announced that it will be hosting a second pop-up immunization clinic to combat the virus.

The clinic, aimed at at-risk community members, takes place July 7 from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the East End Public Health Clinic, 247 Centennial Pkwy. N., Unit 8.

Appointments are required.

Public health said in a release Monday the infected resident likely picked up the virus during a recent visit to Toronto. They are isolating and their close contacts have been notified.

The risk to the public remains low, according to public health.

Thursday's vaccination clinic is intended for 18-plus, male-identifying folks in the LGBTQ community who have sex with other men and to whom at least one of the following applies:

• Identify as a contact of an individual who recently tested positive for monkeypox;

• Have had two or more sexual partners within the past three weeks (21 days) or may be planning to;

• Have been diagnosed with a chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis infection over the past two months;

• Have attended bath houses, sex clubs and other venues for sexual contact within the past 21 days (including workers and volunteers); or

• Have had anonymous or casual sex in the past three weeks (21 days); for example, after using an online dating app, engaged in or planning to take part in sex work.

Monkeypox spreads through contact with bodily fluids, through respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact or through bites and scratches from infected animals. It can take between six and 13 days for symptoms to appear after exposure to the virus.

Monkeypox can cause fever, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, rash and exhaustion. Most people recover on their own without treatment.

As of Tuesday, there have been 101 lab-confirmed cases of monkeypox in Ontario.

At the first vaccination clinic, Hamilton public health immunized more than 60 community members, according to a release.

To book an appointment at the clinic, call the public health hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7.

Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com