Monkeypox (mpox)

Getting vaccinated

Getting vaccinated is a highly effective way to reduce the chances of mpox infection, and to prevent serious illness. Vaccines against mpox are now available for GBT2Q men in several provinces, including Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario (booking information varies by region), and Quebec. Follow the links above, or contact your local public health agency to find vaccine clinics in your area. The vaccine teaches your immune system to fight mpox, and it takes about 2 weeks for the vaccine to be fully effective.

Many people don’t know if they’ve been vaccinated against mpox. If you are under 50, you did not receive the vaccine as part of Canada’s smallpox/mpox vaccination program. Vaccines effective against smallpox and mpox were previously offered to everyone in Canada, but this program ended in 1972.

What if I have a hard time with needles? The vaccine currently available in Canada (Imvamune) is given differently than many other vaccines. Because it is given in the fatty layer beneath the skin, instead of into muscle, many people find it less painful than other vaccines.

If you suspect that you might have mpox, review the symptoms, which can include fever, muscle pains, and a rash that develops into blisters. If you have symptoms consistent with mpox, contact your health care provider or local public health authority to get tested. Limit contact with others. While mpox usually resolves on its own eventually, getting tested will confirm whether you need to isolate, and provide important information to the health care system on the spread of the virus.

Mpox symptoms can show up between 5-21 days after exposure to the virus, but most often show up between 6 and 13 days after exposure.

If you have mpox, you aren’t alone. Infectious diseases are a part of life, but unfortunately they can also lead to feelings of shame and marginalization. As the virus continues to impact GBT2Q communities, there is a growing stigma relating to mpox, and those who are getting it. Visit igotmpox.com to hear first-hand advice from someone who got mpox, and support in navigating stigma related to mpox.

Vaccination—If you have already been exposed to mpox, getting vaccinated can still help your immune system fight the virus. Contact your health care provider or local public health authority to ask about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for mpox. Getting the vaccine is recommended as soon as possible after exposure to mpox, but can be provided up to two weeks after exposure.

Isolation—Recovering from mpox requires self-isolation, which can last three weeks or longer. Wherever possible, follow isolation guidance from your public health authority. The pocks (sores or blisters), continue to be infectious until the scab falls off and there is new skin underneath.

For many, this period of isolation may be long and difficult. If you are isolating, consider reaching out to your support network. If you aren’t in isolation but know someone who is, consider reaching out to them and offering to deliver supplies if you are able.

Wound care—effective wound care can help in managing pain and discomfort from mpox, but many people with mpox aren’t given proper guidance from the health care system. Learn more about wound care for mpox at igotmpox.com.

Seeking medical treatment—Mpox usually resolves on its own within three to four weeks. However, for many, mpox causes significant pain and discomfort, and it may be important to receive medical attention during this time. Many people experience fever/chills before they notice any rash.

If you have pocks in/near your eyes, in your throat (affecting your ability to breathe) or rectum (with intense pain), you should seek medical attention to prevent disability.

In addition to getting tested for mpox, it is important to seek medical care if there are signs of a secondary bacterial infection. It’s possible for pocks (sores or blisters) caused by mpox anywhere on your body to get infected. Avoid scratching the area to reduce the chance of infection. Some signs that your pocks are infected include extra redness in the surrounding area, swelling, and increasing or intense pain, white discharge, and having a fever.

For people living with HIV, current guidance doesn’t indicate additional measures necessary to prevent mpox infection. However, all people who are immunocompromised—including those living with HIV who are not receiving regular antiretroviral treatment or have a CD4 below 200—may have a higher likelihood of severe illness if they are exposed to the mpox virus. The vaccine currently offered in Canada (Imvamune) is shown to be safe for people living with HIV.

Research is ongoing to understand trends in recent mpox transmission. While it’s clear mpox is spreading within GBT2Q men’s social and sexual networks, the reason GBT2Q people are most impacted is less clear.

One explanation is that GBT2Q people tend to have different sexual patterns than other groups. GBT2Q people often have a higher number of sexual partners, for example, and non-monogamous relationships are more common. This may mean the mpox virus can spread more easily in a “chain” from person to person. While many non-GBT2Q people also have a high number of sexual partners, different patterns of sex and intimacy in the population could mean the virus doesn’t spread efficiently enough to survive. This aligns with one mpox modeling study from the UK, which used data about sexual patterns to predict mpox transmission.

Currently, there isn’t clear evidence to suggest mpox transmission is linked to particular behaviours, like anal sex. The mpox virus has been found in semen, but is unclear whether this is a significant contributor to transmission. As mpox can be passed on from skin-to-skin, and other intimate contact, condoms aren’t reliable in stopping sexual transmission of mpox.