The Ministry of Health and Welfare opens appointments for monkeypox vaccination

In Taiwan, there have been 10 local cases of monkeypox as of March 21. Sexual contact is the primary method of transmission. Taiwanese Dermatological Association recently made the decision to host an urgent session to talk about defenses on March 31. Appointments for the initial monkeypox vaccination phase have just become available at Taiwan Centers of Disease Control, the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

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Monkeypox blisters, on the other hand, have rather rough skin and an average diameter of more than 1 cm.Photo reproduced from World Health Organization website

Serious outbreaks of monkeypox have started as early as the middle of last year in both Europe and the US. The first local incidence in Taiwan wasn't recorded until March 1 of this year. Members of the Taiwanese Dermatological Association have cautioned that local instances of monkeypox may grow dramatically within one month, and April may be a period of fast increase, due to the 5 to 21-day incubation period for the disease.

According to Zheng Yubin(鄭煜彬), an attending physician at the Dermatology and Hair Transplant Center of Cathay General Hospital, monkeypox symptoms like as fever, chills, and blisters will occur after the incubation period, and since it is already contagious, extra attention must be made. It can spread by droplets in addition to skin-to-skin contact.

The symptoms of monkeypox and chickenpox are remarkably similar, according to Zheng. In contrast to chickenpox, the monkeypox rash develops on the face first, then spreads to the limbs, and ultimately covers the entire body. Monkeypox blisters, on the other hand, have rather rough skin and an average diameter of more than 1 cm.

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The first stage of monkeypox vaccine registration process.Photo provided by CDC

Except for New Taipei City and Taipei City, the appointment rate for the first round of monkeypox vaccine, according to Luo Yijun(羅一均), deputy director of the CDC of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, is less than 10%. The first stage's appointments are currently all booked up, and the next step will depend on the current immunization status. After evaluation, if there is a balance, the second round of appointments will be made. There are currently available for just six capitals. There should eventually be at least one immunization site in each of the 22 counties and cities.

The CDC also emphasized the need of receiving monkeypox vaccination for anybody who "had high-risk sexual behavior in the past six months," such as those with venereal disease, those who have had several sexual partners, and those who provide sex trade services.