At-risk people now have more choices on where to get a COVID vaccine in South Florida
Starting Monday, all state-run and county-run vaccination sites in South Florida will begin vaccinating people with at-risk medical conditions that make them “extremely vulnerable” to COVID-19.
In Miami-Dade County, locations include state-run sites Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and Marlins Park in Little Havana, and county-run sites at Tropical Park and Zoo Miami.
The new site at Homestead Sports Complex is already scheduling appointments for people with at-risk conditions. So are all of the state-run sites in Broward County, including Tree Tops Park in Davie, Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Square Mall in Coral Springs and Markham Park in Sunrise.
Besides proof of Florida residency, people with at-risk conditions who book an appointment at Broward or Miami-Dade sites will also need to show a physician-signed “at risk” form. The form can be downloaded from the Florida Department of Health’s website floridahealthcovid19.gov. Appointments are required at all sites.
The Florida Department of Health in Broward County announced the criteria expansion Tuesday for people 16 and older. Broward’s health department says it contracted with advanced practice registered nurses and pharmacists to make at-risk vaccinations possible at all of its sites. At-risk 16- and 17-years-olds will need to have a parent or legal guardian with them at the site to sign the consent form.
For other state-run and county-run sites such as Hard Rock Stadium and Tropical Park, the change comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a new executive order that will lower the vaccination age from 65 to 60 on Monday. The order also allows anyone with at-risk conditions to get vaccinated at state-run and county sites.
Previously, people with at-risk conditions could only get vaccinated through hospitals, pharmacies, doctor offices and federally run sites like the one at the Miami Dade College North campus.
After several chaotic days at the MDC site, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Cava said she would be ensuring that eligible residents would be able to get the vaccine.
“It’s critical that no eligible residents are excluded from accessing this life-saving vaccine — particularly the most vulnerable, including those who rely on public transit or don’t have access to a car,” she said on Twitter Wednesday night.
Cava has directed Miami-Dade police to work with state and federal teams to make sure residents are able to get the vaccine at the MDC North site.
How can at risk people get a COVID-19 vaccine in Miami-Dade and Broward?
To pre-register for an appointment at state-run sites in Miami-Dade and Broward County, visit myvaccine.fl.gov. For Miami-Dade, you can also call 888-499-0840 or TTY 888-256-8918. For Broward, call 866-201-6313 or TTY 844-252-2003. This puts you on a wait list. Once an appointment is available, you will be contacted.
State-run sites in Miami-Dade County include Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and Marlins Park in Miami. Also recently added: a parking lot-turned-vaccine site at 1551 NW First Ave., near Miami’s Overtown community; and Oak Grove Park community center, 690 NE 159th St. in Northeast Miami-Dade.
State-run sites in Broward County include Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Square Mall in Coral Springs, Markham Park in Sunrise, Tree Tops Park in Davie, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, Central Regional Park in Lauderhill, and Broward College’s Coconut Creek campus.
To pre-register for an appointment at Miami-Dade County-run sites including Tropical Park, Zoo Miami and Homestead Sports Complex, visit miamidade.gov/vaccine or call 305-614-2014. This puts you on a wait list, and once an appointment is available, you will be contacted.
FEMA sites including the one at Miami-Dade College North, hospitals such as Jackson Health System and Broward Health and pharmacies including Navarro, Publix, Walmart and Winn-Dixie also offer vaccines to people with at-risk conditions.
Miami Herald Reporter Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 10, 2021 at 9:17 AM.
