Monkeypox Update - Foreigners Swarm Canada for Vaccinations
by Naba Batool
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According to the latest reports, the US has been facing a short supply of monkeypox vaccination which is causing foreigners to flock to Montreal.
Montreal is the capital of Quebec province which is about 70 km away from the US border, located on the northern border. The city has made monkeypox vaccination available for people who are experiencing severe symptoms of monkeypox.
Rob Stilson who is an art director from Denver, Colorado while visiting Montreal said that "It's very difficult in the States to get vaccinated," People have to wait in lines for 8 to 9 hours to get vaccinations. After witnessing this drastic situation in the US, Montreal authorities have decided to offer vaccinations to the general masses.
With the monkeypox vaccine in short supply in the United States, thousands of foreigners, including Americans are flocking to Montreal to get their shots. | @AFP https://t.co/yilBgiNg9T
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 13, 2022
Donald Vinh who is an infectious disease specialist at McGill University Health Center told that
"As tourists, they may participate in activities that may expose them and so in a way, we’re combatting the pandemic by letting them become vaccinated here so that they don’t transmit the infection either here or when they go back home."
The vaccination campaign in Montreal was launched in mid-May when the first case of monkeypox was detected. Since then Montreal has provided vaccination jabs to over 18,500 people. Out of which 13% are foreigners.
The health minister’s goal is to provide 25,000 doses so that 75% of the population can be vaccinated especially those who are involved in same gender sex or multiple partners. Vinh said that “I hope the strategy used by the public health agency of Montreal is a beacon for other public health agencies to use as a vaccination strategy,"
But this has also caused a lack of vaccination supplies in the western province of British Columbia which has led to health authorities no longer providing vaccinations in those areas.
As of Aug 11, Canada has active cases of 1,059 cases of monkeypox.
