Vancouver, BC – HIM would like to acknowledge the announcement made by the WHO (World Health Organization) declaring mpox (monkeypox) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and would like to remind our community that the situation in British Columbia remains unchanged by this announcement.
The current situation in Africa has raised global concerns, including issues of health equity. The variant of the virus that is being referred to in this PHEIC is different than the one that was found in the 2022 outbreak in BC. The variant being referred to in the current PHEIC is mainly spreading in Central and East Africa, including countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. The WHO has declared mpox a global health emergency due to the rapid spread and increased case counts in these regions, where access to the mpox vaccine was limited throughout the outbreak.
At HIM, we have been working closely with Vancouver Coastal Health and all regional health authorities to ensure that our community has access to the mpox vaccine. Collectively, we have set up pop-up vaccination clinics in key areas like Davie Village, Wreck Beach, and during pride events, making it convenient for those eligible to get vaccinated. These efforts are crucial in keeping our community safe.
The results of our vaccination campaign have been promising. Since the summer of 2022, the number of mpox cases in British Columbia has decreased significantly. While there are still a few active cases in the province, the risk of exposure remains low.
The proactive measures taken by our governments, local health authorities and community organizations have significantly reduced the risk locally. The combination of community action, vaccination campaigns, public health monitoring, and community support ensures that the affected communities in Vancouver and across BC remain well-protected from mpox.
HIM will continue our collaboration with the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) as well as the province’s health authorities to ensure health promotion messaging remains relevant and community informed providing up-to-date information and resources to help prevent the spread of the virus. For more information or to find a vaccination clinic near you, please visit checkhimout.ca/mpox/vaccination
