Toronto increases mpox vaccine slots amid concerns over access
Appointments aren't readily available for eligible residents, says pharmacist
As Toronto Public Health (TPH) calls on eligible residents to get vaccinated to combat the recent outbreak of mpox — some residents say they're facing difficulties accessing the shot.
Access to the vaccine is something health professionals say is especially important in light of the World Health Organization naming the virus a public health emergency of international concern for the second time since 2022. The highly contagious disease is characterized by skin lesions, rash and a fever that can be fatal, and thousands of infections are being reported in 18 countries in Africa.
"It's concerning because we've been encouraged to get it and there's just been such a delay," said Tim Hilliard, an Etobicoke resident.
Hilliard said he tried to book a shot with TPH this week but there were no appointments available until three weeks from now. As of Friday, there were no appointments available on the TPH website.
He said TPH suggested he phone community sexual health clinics and he was able to book an appointment for next week with Safer Six, a private clinic in the Toronto core.
The illness is currently primarily impacting men who have sex with other men, according to TPH. But the delays in getting vaccinated are only adding to concerns among the LGBTQ+ community over the current outbreak, Hilliard said.
The Public Health Agency of Canada said during the 2022 outbreak that though the illness appeared to be affecting primarily gay and bisexual men— it's not because those groups are predisposed to it, they just happened to be the group experiencing the virus at the time.
Hilliard said he has enough connections to call around and get an appointment, but others are not in that position and are afraid to ask to get vaccinated, due to the stigma toward gay men.
TPH opening up appointment slots, holding vaccine clinic
After CBC Toronto asked TPH about concerns regarding vaccine access, a spokesperson for the public health agency said in an emailed statement it is increasing appointment access.
"Due to a surge of interest," they are making more appointments available and are holding an mpox vaccination clinic for eligible residents at Metro Hall on Aug. 24, the spokesperson said.
There are no concerns about vaccine supply at this time, they added. TPH would not say how much vaccine they have in stock.
On Monday, TPH said there were 116 confirmed cases of mpox as of Aug. 14, according to a spokesperson.
This week, TPH said the most recent numbers show there was a spike in reported cases of mpox — formerly known as monkeypox — in late June and July, and cases are continuing to be reported.
That comes as health officials have raised concerns about a new strain of mpox called clade Ib, which appears to cause more severe disease. The Public Health Agency of Canada says on its website that no cases of the new strain have been found in Canada, but it is continuing to monitor the situation.
TPH said Monday that none of the confirmed cases in Toronto are clade Ib.
With global fears around mpox, the public health agency needs to be more proactive in getting vaccines into arms, said Michael Fanous, a pharmacist and founder of medsEXPERT, a pharmacy that focuses on the health needs of the LGBTQ+ community.
The 2022 mpox outbreak in Toronto saw the LGBTQ+ community coming together in large numbers to get vaccinated, which was driven by long-standing strong relationships between queer sexual health organizations and residents, community advocates said at the time.
Pharmacist frustrated by 'reactive' approach
But Fanous said he says he's hearing from many people who want to be vaccinated but are struggling to book appointments on the TPH website that aren't weeks away.
"Public health is a bit reactive and they see the numbers going up and they issue advisories, and they don't make the vaccine readily available," he said.
He said as a health care provider, he has had to create his own resources to determine which clinics to send patients to for vaccination. Fanous has been recommending patients go to Crossway Sexual Health at Dundas St. West and Bloor and the Scarborough Sexual Health Clinic.
But those are not close to the Gay Village and will take longer to get to, he said.
"I feel frustrated at the lack of complete and competent guidance from public health as well as transparency about appointment availability," he said.
Fanous also said those with mpox face isolation, which can be compounded by isolation they may already feel due to discrimination around their sexuality.
"Not a lot of queer individuals have the resources or the ability to isolate as easily as people who are supported by their families," he said. "So we worry about the mental health of a lot of those patients."
Toronto Public Health has information on which groups are eligible for the mpox shot on its website. A list of clinics providing the shot is also available on the TPH website.