Miami-Dade monkeypox vaccine appointments open for high-risk people. Here’s how to sign up

Elise C. Gregg, Devoun Cetoute
·2 min read
A nurse prepares the monkeypox vaccine at the Pride Center at Equality Park in Wilton Manors, Florida, on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.
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More monkeypox vaccination appointments will open up starting Wednesday in Miami-Dade County for those who are high risk.

On Tuesday evening, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced the county received a limited supply of Jynneos vaccines in partnership with Nomi Health.

“Get the shot — and help stop the spread,” Levine Cava tweeted.

Starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, appointments can be made at miamidade.gov/monkeypox or calling 833-875-0900. Only two sites will be available: Miami Beach, 224 23rd St., and Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40th St.

“If you are eligible, we encourage you to get vaccinated against monkeypox and we are working hard alongside all our partners to make more vaccines available in Miami-Dade,” Levine Cava said.

To be fully immunized, you’ll need two doses, with the second being administered 28 days after the first one.

Appointments are only for those in high-risk populations, which health officials define as:

  • Laboratory personnel and selected healthcare personnel at high-risk for infection.

  • People who have had a close contact with someone who has monkeypox.

  • Immunocompromised men who have sex with other men with HIV.

  • Other men, who also have sex with other men, and have a recent history of sexually transmissible diseases.

Symptoms for monkeypox include headaches, fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches and backache, chills and rash that can resemble pimples or blisters on the face, inside of the mouth and other parts of the body such as the feet, hands chest, genitals and anal area.

Demand for the vaccine is currently much greater than what the county currently has.

“Monkeypox is here in Miami-Dade, but we are ready to respond and protect our community,” Levine Cava. said “The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that we must act as a community to protect ourselves and each other, and we are taking advantage of the lessons learned and the robust infrastructure we still have in place to offer services to those in need of protection against this virus.”

Miami-Dade sees most reported cases of Monkeypox in state

Florida Department of Health data shows that Miami-Dade surpasses the state’s other counties on reported monkeypox cases.

Miami-Dade has recorded 387 confirmed and probable cases of monkeypox, according to the state’s Reportable Diseases Frequency Report. Broward comes in second with 349 cases, Palm Beach is fourth with 47 cases and Monroe is seventh with 13 cases.

Across the state, there are 985 cases in Florida, the state report shows.