Imvamune® vaccine is approved in Canada for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis – (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).
A full dose (0.5 mL) of Imvamune® should be given via the subcutaneous route (e.g., the fatty tissue on the outer aspect of the upper arm). Ontario is NOT using intradermal administration (i.e., injections delivered into the dermis, or the skin layer underneath the epidermis) as seen in other countries.
Although Imvamune® doses are recommended to be given 28 days apart, interruption of a vaccine series does not require restarting the series as delays between doses does not reduce final antibody concentrations for most multi-dose products and as such a second dose should be received regardless of the time passed since receipt of the first.
Local Vaccination Approach
TBDHU will continue to offer vaccination for both pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to follow with Ministry of Health recommendations.
As of November 13, 2022, 36,291 individuals had received at least one dose of Imvamune®. Of these, only 9.9% (n= 3,989) had received two doses.
Ontario data shows that most individuals who have tested positive for mpox have not received the Imvamune® vaccine or started having symptoms within two weeks of receiving the vaccine. Those who had at least one dose of vaccine before receiving a confirmed mpox diagnosis were less likely to report symptoms or exhibit severe illness requiring hospitalization.
TBDHU will contact individuals who received a first dose and make a second dose of the vaccine available, in additional to continuing to provide doses to those who want to start the series, as it is still unknown what the future trajectory of mpox will be and how long the vaccine program will be continued for. The completion of the required vaccine series should be encouraged.
Individuals are asked to call 625-5900 and ask to speak with the Vaccine Preventable Diseases program and request information and/or an appointment at the next clinic; TBDHU is planning clinics in February 2023.
TBDHU will work with health care providers to ensure PrEP is easily accessible in district communities. Anyone from these communities who qualifies for this clinic are welcome to receive the vaccine in Thunder Bay.
Pre-Exposure Vaccine Eligibility
Pre-exposure eligibility:
- Two-spirit, non-binary, transgender, cisgender, intersex, or gender-queer individuals who self-identify or have sexual partners who self-identify as belonging to the gay, bisexual, pansexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) community AND at least one of the following:
- Have or had a confirmed sexually transmitted infection within the last year,
- Have or are planning to have two or more sexual partners or are in a relationship where at least one of the partners may have other sexual partners,
- Have attended venues for sexual contact (e.g., bath house, sex clubs) recently or may be planning to, or who work/volunteer in these settings
- Have had anonymous sex (e.g., using hookup apps) recently or may be planning to, and/or are a sexual contact of an individual who engages in sex work.
- Individuals who self-identify as engaging in sex work or are planning to, regardless of self-identified sex or gender.
Household and/or sexual contacts of those identified for PrEP eligibility in parts 1 or 2 above AND who are moderately to severely immunocompromised or pregnant may be at higher risk for severe illness from a MPOX infection. These individuals may be considered for PrEP and should contact their healthcare provider (or their local public health unit) for more information.
