August 20, 2024
The Honourable Sylvia Jones
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
777 Bay Street, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
RE: Expanding Availability of Mpox Vaccine
Dear Minister Jones:
It has come to my attention that amidst the growing concern and awareness campaigns around the mpox virus, Toronto Public Health currently has no vaccine appointments available.
Toronto Public Health has urged eligible residents to book vaccine appointments as soon as possible after a sharp uptick in cases reported in Toronto in July. However, access to vaccine appointments has not kept pace with increasing local demand. These barriers to vaccine accessibility threaten to undermine our efforts to control the spread of this virus and protect public health.
Ensuring widespread access to mpox vaccines is critical in preventing outbreaks and safeguarding the health of our communities. The current limited availability of these vaccines not only hampers our ability to respond effectively but also instills fear and uncertainty among those at risk.
I urge you, Minister Jones, to take immediate action to address this issue by:
- Increasing Vaccine Supply: It is critical that your office facilitate the procurement of additional mpox vaccines to meet the growing demand.
- Improving Distribution: Work with Toronto Public Health and other local health authorities to streamline and enhance the distribution process, ensuring that vaccines are readily available, especially in high-risk communities.
- Monitoring and Reporting: Establish a robust system for monitoring vaccine distribution and reporting any challenges or gaps in real-time, allowing for swift adjustments and improvements. Restore wastewater surveillance across Ontario.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your prompt action and am hopeful that together we can work towards a healthier and safer community.
Sincerely yours,
Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP Toronto Centre
Member of Provincial Parliament for Toronto Centre
120 Carlton Street. Suite 401
Toronto, Ontario
M5A 4K2