Emergency ending, but not concern
Status soon to change, but COVID-19 still seen as a public health priority in Florida
Three years after the Trump administration declared COVID-19 a public health emergency, President Joe Biden has announced it will end May 11.
The public health emergency allowed the federal government to access additional funds and resources to battle the virus responsible for infecting 102 million in the U.S. and causing the deaths of more than 1 million. Its end may make it harder for Floridians to protect themselves against COVID-19, public health researchers say.
COVID-19 vaccines, masks and treatment will no longer be offered free for everyone. Free tests will no longer be mailed to every U.S. household. The federal government will no longer offer increased reimbursements to hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients.
A rule barring states from taking people off Medicaid, previously tied to the PHE, will end March 31.
“Generally speaking, when you take away that protection that you get from the public health emergency, everything gets more difficult and more expensive,” said Jill Roberts, an associate professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health.
Since 2020 COVID19 has killed over 84,000 Floridians, disproportionately Black and Hispanic and often over 65. New variants launched surges that tested hospital capacity, overwhelmed morgues and backed up crematories in Central Florida.
In recent months widespread availability of vaccines and treatments has greatly decreased mortality and caseloads, justifying the end of the “emergency” label, wrote Jason Salemi, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, in an email.
He said he’s concerned, however, that the end of federal reimbursements for tests and vaccines will worsen disparities in COVID-19 outcomes in marginalized groups and uninsured people.
“Although I do not disagree with removing the ‘emergency phase’ label, I am concerned about some of its implications — the biggest of which is the lack of funding for things that we have relied upon greatly to battle the pandemic thus far: vaccines and testing,” Salemi wrote.
Insurance and Medicare may continue to cover at least part of the costs, but uninsured people will have a harder time finding reimbursement.
Raul Pino, the head of Orange County government’s Health Services, said administrators have not yet discussed how the PHE’s end will affect care for the uninsured in Orange County.
People without insurance are treated at the Orange County Medical Clinic on Westmoreland Drive, near the Health Department and Orlando City Soccer Stadium.
“It’s still a ways away,” he said, adding he was “pretty sure” the county will provide vaccines and treatments to protect uninsured people against the virus and its variants.
“We have it,” he said of vaccines and medications.
Florida has one of the lowest uptakes of the most current vaccine booster in the nation.
Data suggests this bivalent booster, offered by Pfizer and Moderna, is the most effective shot to protect against severe disease and death from the currently dominant COVID-19 omicron subvariants.
Roberts attributes Florida’s low uptake to vaccine fatigue, confusion about when to take it, and misinformation about how the booster works and its safety.
“The conclusions of all the studies that have looked at its [safety] have said there’s no concern there,” Roberts said. “But when the headline says ‘Booster shot carries risk of stroke,’ that’s sending a mixed message to the people who are really most important to get vaccinated.”
Coverage is low in all age groups, but the contrast between initial vaccination and booster uptake is most dramatic in Floridians over 65. This is also one of the groups most at risk from the virus: More than one out of every 20 people over 65 who test positive for COVID-19 in Florida dies.
This group was prioritized for tests and vaccinations during the initial vaccine rollout. Guided by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Senior’s First Initiative, vaccination rates in this group soared to 94%.
“Florida remains steadfast in our commitment to putting Seniors First and the numbers speak for themselves,” said DeSantis in a January 2021 news release, which said Florida was the first state in the nation to vaccinate more than 500,000 people over 65 years old.
Since then, DeSantis has publicly turned against vaccines and, alongside state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, has been accused by other politicians and scientists of spreading misinformation about COVID-19.
Now only about 25% have gotten the most recent booster, according to the CDC.
Given how much the virus has mutated and how much time has passed, the initial vaccine series appears to give the unboosted zero protection against severe disease.
“They’re totally different types of shots,” Roberts said.
Salemi pointed out that if COVID-19 continues killing people, nationally, at about 531 cases per day, it will be one of 2023’s top five causes of death.
“No emergency does not mean end of COVID-19 precautions,” Salemi said. “We need to continue to advocate for accurate and consistent dissemination of information to people, repair the deep divides this pandemic has uncovered, and get our collective heads on straight so we don’t make the same mistakes (or worse) when the next pandemic rears its ugly head.”