The province is making the monkeypox vaccine available to more people in the province.
Until now, the supply of the vaccine Imvamune- the same used to treat smallpox – has been limited to 150 doses.
But all that will be doubled, giving the province more leeway to expand availability for more people in high risk categories.
The rollout will start this coming Monday, but Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says people will have to meet certain criteria.
She says that includes people who have had sex with two or more persons in the past 90 days, or planning to do so, have been diagnosed with STD in the last 60 months, and have attended, worked or volunteered in other venues with sexual contact in the last 90 day, whether that’s inside or outside the province.
Fitzgerald credited high risk groups and sex workers for being proactive in seeking out the vaccine to prevent the spread of monkeypox.
She noted while it has affected the gay community disproportionately, anyone can contract the virus.
There remains just two probable, unconfirmed cases in the province but Fitzgearld says it’s likely more cases will surface.