Vaccine demand drops, threatening immunity

Fewer Floridians are getting COVID-19 vaccines, generating concern over whether the state can develop enough immunity fast enough to stop the spread of the virus.

Even with all adults in Florida now eligible for vaccination, demand has dropped dramatically in the last week.

The average number of first doses per day this week represents a nearly 35% decrease from the average over the previous week. For the week ending April 15, an average of 64,697 first doses were given out per day compared with 99,389 per day the week prior.

“There are a lot of vaccines available; now we need to make sure people know there are vaccines available, and go get them,” said Dr. Edwin Michael, a University of South Florida epidemiologist.

The signs of vaccination slowdown are apparent: it’s easier to get vaccine appointments and some sites are eliminating them altogether, wait times at sites are shorter, and some locations are offering evening hours to lure the daytime workers.

The drop comes as the number of residents infected with more infectious mutated strains of COVID-19 has exploded a month after the peak of Florida’s spring break.

Health officials say to suppress the virus, Florida needs about 80% of its 22.2 million residents to have immunity either from having the virus or by getting vaccinated. Only about 44% of Floridians are fully vaccinated or have had COVID, according to Department of Health data.

That means something needs to change.

The key group to keeping the virus at bay is the 25- to 34-year-olds who make up the highest percentage of COVID cases and are most likely to transmit COVID to others. Florida opened COVID vaccine eligibility to this group on April 5, and so far, only about 20% of 25- to 34-year-olds have received one or more doses. Many young adults have told the Sun Sentinel they are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

From the start, Gov. Ron DeSantis prioritized protecting seniors and announced he would make the shots available to all state residents age 65 and up beginning in mid-December. About 85% of seniors have had at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.

“The older people were vulnerable and wanted to get vaccinated, but to end the pandemic we are going to need the 20- to 49-yearolds to get vaccinated,” Michael said. “Messaging has been a problem. We have given young people the impression they are safe from this virus and have not articulated that all of us are vulnerable. Until 80% of Floridians are immune, COVID is not going away.”

Michael said the state now needs to put a stronger focus on convincing those reluctant to get shots. “This may mean going out to people rather than waiting for them to come to you.”

If Florida ramps up vaccination to twice its current rate, the state could reach herd immunity by the second week of July, Michael said. If the vaccination rate continues — or slows — it could take until 2022, if it happens at all.

In recent weeks, the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine gained traction in Florida as

DeSantis touted the idea of being “one and done.” But on Tuesday, Florida paused the use of the vaccine while the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control studies a rare side effect. DeSantis assured Floridians the state has a robust supply of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Kevin Watler, public information officer for Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, said the vaccination rate in the Tampa/St. Pete’s area had declined even before the CDC put the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on hold. Some vaccination sites in the county were not filling all their appointments, he said.

Watler said doses now are being moved between sites to get more vials to locations with higher traffic.

“No one can use the excuse they can’t find a vaccine or get an appointment,” he said. “We have plenty of vaccines and we encourage people to go get them.”

The Department of Health Broward announced Thursday it is no longer requiring an appointment at multiple sites throughout the county and will participate in multimedia campaigns to promote vaccinations. Its total doses administered daily dropped by as much as 800 this week. All individuals age 16 and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine at the Broward vaccination sites.

Publix also announced its online reservation system will remain open continuously to book appointments for the Moderna vaccine, a big change from its previous policy.

Robin Kish, a spokesman for the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, says decreased demand for vaccine appointments at its three Palm Beach County sites led to changes this week, too. The Health Care district now offers extended hours for COVID-19 vaccination appointments as late as 7 p.m. on some weekdays and Saturday appointments. In addition, there are no wait times to self-schedule online at http://vaccine. hcdpbc.org.

Lifting appointment requirements has helped some vaccination sites draw Floridians.

At Hard Rock Stadium, one of the state’s busiest vaccination sites, extended hours and a lifted appointment requirement has led to a continuous stream of persons of all ages, says Dr. Rashid A. Chotani, medical director of the site operator, AshBritt/IEM. “A lot of people don’t have Internet access or they are not computer savvy. It’s not rocket science. This is how we are going to get them vaccinated.”

Jason Mahon, spokesman for the Florida Department of Heath, said the state has worked with pharmacy partners, counties and the federal government to open more than 1,600 vaccination sites across Florida.

“As the state continues to receive vaccine allocations from the federal government, we will continue to develop new, innovative ways to ensure all Floridians have access to the COVID-19 vaccine,” he said.