Hamilton Public Health to host pop-up monkeypox vaccination clinic

Hamilton Public Health is hosting a pop-up monkeypox vaccination clinic for at-risk community members Thursday.

People with an appointment can get their shot from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the East End Public Health Clinic at 247 Centennial Pkwy North, Unit 8.

“While the risk to Hamiltonians from this infection remains very low and there are no known cases of the monkeypox virus confirmed locally, Hamilton Public Health Services is working closely with the Ontario Ministry of Health, Toronto Public Health and other Public Health Units in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area to ensure there are proactive actions taken in response to the virus,” the health agency said in a statement.

Hamilton Public Health said the clinic is intended for men over 18 who have sex with men, as well as at least one of the following:

• 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 three weeks, including workers and volunteers; or
• Have had anonymous or casual sex in the past three weeks.

Call the Hamilton Public Health hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 to book an appointment.

As of June 28, there have been 67 confirmed cases of monkeypox reported in Ontario.