The fetish community has been calling for a vaccine for two years – Greater Oslo

This week, at least two new cases of smallpox have been discovered in Oslo. The authorities are now going out and asking people in the risk groups to get vaccinated. But this is happening far too late, believes the president of the fetish and BDSM club Scandinavian Leather Men (SLM). – We have been asking for this for two years since the infection came to Norway in 2022, says Marius Hofseth. As president, he is the spokesperson for one of the sex-positive communities that is now receiving attention that they would prefer to avoid. Now Hofseth believes that the healthcare system should have come on board much earlier with an easily accessible vaccine offer. The information has been too bad for the target groups, he believes. – And it has been partly complicated for people to have both tests carried out and vaccinations seen. Meiner Norway was late He states that they take the outbreak of smallpox very seriously, in the same way as other sexually transmitted diseases. But the governing authorities should have been much more forthcoming, Hofseth believes. In Germany and in many other countries, there was already an offer for drop-in vaccination in the spring of 2022. In Norway, vaccination only started in late summer and autumn. – Then you had already lost several months, so that this could spread. The pink in the picture shows the virus particles from the m-cup virus, while the yellow shows a cell that has been infected by the virus. Image from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Photo: NIAID / Reuters Wants a new offer in place He also points to the fact that Norway was very late in obtaining vaccine doses, unlike several of our neighboring countries. – It can only come from a lack of follow-up from the health authorities, believes the president of SLM. Hofseth also states that a low-threshold offer is underway to reach more people with information and vaccine. Those who have had sexual contact with someone who has probable or confirmed m-pox are also asked to contact their infection control office within four days. There, they will be able to receive what is called a “post-exposure vaccine”. Oslo Municipality Chief Medical Officer, Fredrik Rønning Iversen, says that they are ready to receive an increasing number of people who need the vaccines. In Oslo, the vaccination will take place at the Nydalen vaccination centre. – Now we operate with infection tracking, and it can be time-consuming work. We are working to inform all the relevant close contacts, says Rønning. The Norwegian Health Authority will not respond to the criticism that SLM makes that vaccination has taken too long. Fredrik Rønning Iversen is chief municipal physician in Oslo municipality. Photo: Geir Bjarte Hjetland / news It took time to create a system – Vaccination against m-pox has been available for men who have sex with men since the autumn of 2022. That’s what Preben Aavitsland, professional director of monitoring at FHI, wrote in an email to news. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health states that 2,300 people have been vaccinated. The vast majority are men who have sex with men. – In the summer of 2022, we had few doses available and therefore had to create a system that ensured that men with the highest risk came first in the queue, which took some time. Aavitsland writes that the delay two years ago has nothing to do with today’s situation. Senior doctor Preben Aavitsland in FHI says that other municipalities also have vaccination offers. Photo: Tor Erik Schrøder Since the outbreak started in 2022, FHI has had several meetings with organizations for men who have sex with men to inform about the smallpox threat. – Associations for these men have also spread information and taken great responsibility. This meant that the outbreak in the summer of 2022 passed quickly without vaccination, and since then we have only had single cases and small outbreaks. People are asked to be careful. One of the new confirmed cases of m-pox was discovered in a person who was at a party at SLM. They do not know who this is, but she has stated that she was at a party at SLM on 6 October and 12 October. Now everyone who was at these two parties is asked to be extra attentive to any symptoms and extra careful with a view to further infection. In consultation with the health authorities, they come up with advice: Those who had sex or skin contact with someone at these parties should avoid sex or skin contact for three weeks after the party they were at. Everyone is encouraged to see a doctor if they have rashes, blisters or small sores which does not heal on its own All men who have sex with men are encouraged to vaccinate themselves against m-pox. In addition, the club asks everyone who has symptoms of illness such as colds and flu to stay at home until they are well. Published 23.10.2024, at 19.20 Updated 23.10.2024, at 20.05



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