Vaccinations increase in Florida amid fears about rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations – Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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After steadily dropping for months, COVID-19 vaccinations are on the riseagain in Florida, a trendexperts say likely is driven byfears surrounding a new wave of infections and hospitalizations.

In the week ending Wednesday, some 249,750 Floridians receivedtheir first vaccine dose, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows. That number's up about 59% in just two weeks, from 157,350 first-dose vaccines administered in the week ending July 14.

The improved number is still a faint echo of Florida's best week in mid-April, when about 943,000 first doses wereadministered, but it's a welcome sign and one that's to be expected when infections spike, experts say.

I comparethis to other times that weve had surges," said Cindy Prins, an epidemiology professor at the University of Florida. "We had a surge last summer. These correct themselves sometimes because people get worried and scared about whats going on."

During past surges, people resorted to mitigation measures such as social distancing and mask-wearing. Now they also have the option of getting vaccinated.

For some people who were doing the wait-and-see, I think this is the motivation that they needed to go out and protect themselves," Prins said.

Florida is anational epicenter of the current COVID-19 wave. The state accountedforroughly a fifth of all new infectionsnationwide earlier this month.

The Florida Department of Health reported a weekly tally of 73,199 new infections in the most recent report issued Friday. That's more infections than California, New York, Texas and Illinois had combined during the same time period.

Florida has reported more cases per week than any other state since June 16, and has led the nation most of the weeks since April 23.

The surge of infections is filling up hospital beds around the statewith COVID-19 patients andstraining the capacity of some health care providers, who say the vast majority of those hospitalized are unvaccinated.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis touted the effectiveness of the vaccines at an event last week,saying: These vaccines are saving lives. They are reducing mortality.

DeSantis also hasresponded to the latest COVID-19 wave by reiterating his opposition to lockdowns and mask mandates, including in schools.He traveled to Utah Wednesday, where he slammed the latest mask guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in speech to the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Meanwhile, Florida's COVID-19case countcontinued to climb at a rapid pace this week.

Florida reported 16,038 new infections to federal officials Tuesday, the largest daily total since Jan. 15. Yet while the state is sending datato the federal government, the Florida Department of Health is not releasingdaily reports to the public anymore, instead opting for weekly reporting.

Dr. Marissa Levine, a professor of public health and family medicine at the University of South Florida who leads the schools Center for Leadership in Public Health Practice, pointed to the increase in vaccinations to argue thatDOH should resume daily reporting.

Levine said the spike in vaccinations "is likely directly related to the increasing publicity of this next wave of the pandemic and the concerns related to the delta variant."

"In general, people are moved to action when the threat is more visible," Levine added. "This makes the case though for why the state should return to daily case reporting and hospital status.Both of these would enhance awareness and could lead to more protective actions by the public."

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The number of Floridians who have received at least one dose of the vaccine was 11.5 million as of late last week, which is 60% of the population eligible to receive a shot. The vaccines currently areapproved for individuals 12 and older.

The largeportion of unvaccinated individuals in Florida and elsewhere is concerning for health professionals, but Prins said it's not surprising that some people have waited to get the vaccine.

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This is how it happens with a lot of new things, were always going to have some people who say at the beginning theres no way and then as time goes on they start to see the benefit," she said.

Prins said "it's a shame"that it's taking another wave of infections, hospitalizations and deaths to convince some people to get vaccinated.

I think its human nature, it doesnt mean its not frustrating," Prins said."Its just how we go, we tend to want to react instead of prepare. Thats what were seeing right now, were seeing people react instead of prepare."

"Better late than never," she added.

The uptick in vaccinations has been encouraging for those administering the shots.

At the Florida Department of Health office in downtown Sarasota, just 10 to 15 people a day were getting vaccinated in early July. The daily vaccination levelhas been creeping upthroughout the month, though. The high this week was 47 vaccinations on Wednesday, said department spokespersonSteve Huard.

"Were encouraged that more people in our community are making the decision to get vaccinated," Huard said.

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Vaccinations increase in Florida amid fears about rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations - Sarasota Herald-Tribune