Page 30 - CNF April 2021 Revised

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A message from our President for having been infected, but, some evidence is now
showing that you can be re-infected; it seems to be based
on the significance of your first infection. If you look at
the different age cohorts, as a state, we have done much
I Didn’t Want To Do It! better vaccinating our 65-74 and 75-84 groups at 72 per-
cent (plus or minus a tenth). When looking at our most
vulnerable 85+ population, we have not done as well at
No mas, no mas! A familiar refrain uttered by Roberto Duran during his fight only 60 percent.
with Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980. It was billed as the “The Super Fight” and in Sadly, while these numbers represent a good start, it is
the eighth round of that fight, Duran turned to the referee and said, “No mas (no only a start. We have all been treated to stories in the
more).” The fight was stopped. We are hearing that same sentiment from many local press about what is happening during Spring
of our readers and programs are now specifically trying to move on from COVID- Break. The partiers, having vaccination rates less than 8
19 ... I couldn’t, not yet. Jaime Caldwell percent, are ignoring the big 3 — distance, masks, hand
What a change a couple of months have made. Recent statistics for Florida sanitation, with the result being potentially significant.
show that through March 21st at least 7,534,223 doses of vaccine have been Florida has already been identified as one state that has the presence of most all
administered. With almost 5,000,000 people in Florida having received at least the COVID-19 variants. These partiers are poised to share our sad bounty with
one dose of a vaccine; we are on the way. the people where they go to school or live. And, given that vaccine distribution
Using some back of the envelope calculations, about 28 percent of Florida’s has been anything but uniform across this country, states that haven’t fared as
population has had at least one dose of a vaccine and a little more than 2,000,000 well are going to be potential sites for new infection surges.
Floridians and visitors have tested positive for the virus. Again, rough numbers, Selfishness is not a unique American trait; it is being played out around the
that gives some level of immunity to about 7,000,000 Floridians (we will ignore world. Some people just think they know better and that, if infected, they prob-
the visitors for now). When that number is compared to our estimated state 2020 ably won’t have any severe symptoms. So, it is no problem, for them. Who they
population (21,480,000), we are only one-third of the way (32.6 percent if our infect along the way is seemingly of no concern to them. Evidently, all rights
goal is to get everyone vaccinated)! aren’t the same.
Recognizing that none of the vaccines are authorized for use for anyone Good news against this backdrop is that AstraZeneca seems to be in the final
younger than 16, it might be more reasonable to exclude them from the calcula- stages of securing Emergency Use Authorization for use of the vaccine in the
tion. If we do that (21,480-000-3,539,863), then our journey to herd immunity United States (it is currently being used in Europe). Look for resolution of the
looks somewhat better at 39 percent. In these calculations, we are giving credit data issue and the U.S. FDA giving their authorization in late April.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com April 2021 3