COVID-19 cases are once again on the rise across the country. The FDA just approved a new vaccines recommending everyone older than 6 months get the new shot.
However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is voicing against it.
The newest version of the vaccine will be rolling out to locations starting this week now with it’s approval. Doctors and federal officials want to see as many people vaccinated by October ahead of the winter months and Fall and Winter illnesses like influenza and RSV.
Right now, COVID cases are climbing higher and faster than the flu, according to Lee Health officials.
With the flu in mind, doctors are hoping going forward getting the COVID vaccine will feel more similar to how we protect from the flu yearly.
“There is good data to show it prevents hospitalization,” said Lee Health infectious disease specialist Dr. Stephanie Stovall. ”Will it build on previous immunity like a booster would, yes.”
Recent data from the Florida Department of Health shows overall in the state, cases are going back up, more than tripling from the same time 10 weeks ago; going from roughly 7,000 cases to more than 23,000.
The biggest spikes are in people over 65 years old, followed by school aged children, then working adults.
However during a Zoom meeting on Wednesday with Gov. DeSantis and his Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Lodapo, they contradicted what federal health officials are advocating. Ladapo saying anyone younger than 65 should not get the booster.
“What I have directed our department to do is recommend guidance that really recommends against the use of these mRNA COVID vaccines for anyone under 65. I just think that at this point with the amount of immunity that’s in the community with virtually every walking human being having some degree of immunity and the questions we have about safety. My judgement is it’s not a good decision,” said Ladapo.
Ladapo did note the rise in older Floridian cases, and said doctors should only give the vaccine with “informed consent.”
“I think for people who are older, that’s really in Florida where we are seeing impacts in terms of hospitalizations and deaths, unfortunately, but at the same time when individuals who are older are making a decision or not take the booster, they should not be mislead,” he continued.
Gov. DeSantis followed up on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying in part “We will not stand by and let the FDA and CDC use Floridians as guinea pigs for mRNA jabs that have not been proven to be safe or effective.”
Meanwhile the FDA stands by its decision saying “The [FDA’s] benefit-risk assessment demonstrates that the benefits of these vaccines for individuals 6 months of age and older outweigh the risks.”
“We are not trying to increase the immunity of the original vaccine with this vaccine we are trying to build upon it and spread it out to cover a different strain,” said Dr. Stephanie Stovall.
The big problem, getting enough people to take the vaccine, only 17% of people who can get the shot got it last year.