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.
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