Moderna Vaccine

The TSA along with rideshare companies are doing away with mask mandates after a federal judge ruled against CDC mask mandates on public transportation. Moderna says their bivalent vaccine is stronger and longer-lasting than their original vaccine. Lucky Charms is under investigation after the FDA is made aware of online complaints.

A Florida Hospital Association survey conducted Aug. 9, finds that by next week, 68% of hospitals expect to reach the point of having a critical staffing shortage.Lee Health has hit another record high of 498 hospitalized COVID-19 patients as of Friday morningA lawsuit filed by parents challenging the constitutionality of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order barring school districts from imposing mandatory student mask mandates will be heard Friday afternoon in a Leon County courtroom. A second federal lawsuit has also been filed alleging the executive order jeopardizes the rights of disabled students who can’t wear mask, but need to be protected.Gov. Ron DeSantis is touting a monoclonal antibody treatment for those infected with the coronavirus called Regeneron. On Thursday, he announced emergency treatment “strike teams” will deploy across the state to increase access to the treatment and to help relieve pressure at hospitals that are seeing rising cases of COVID-19.An expert at the University of Washington with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation tracking pandemic trends says Florida could be at its peak when it comes to new coronavirus cases, but that a rough couple of months are still ahead.University of South Florida researchers are looking for volunteers to participate in a clinical trial about the use of a coronavirus vaccine on children under 12.

State health officials reported 2,296 new COVID-19 cases, Monday for a total of more than 2.2 million infections. The Florida Department of Health also reported 52 coronavirus-related deaths, May 10, increasing the statewide death toll to 36,498 fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic.The Florida Division of Emergency Management reports that as of Monday morning more than 9.3 million people in Florida have been vaccinated against COVID-19 including more than 2.2 million people who have received a first dose and more than 7 million people who have completed a two-dose vaccine series or received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.Publix grocery store locations offering COVID-19 vaccines are no longer requiring appointments. CVS, Walgreens, Winn-Dixie, Walmart, and Sam's Club had already allowed walk-ins.

State health officials reported 5,571 new COVID-19 cases and 83 deaths, Wednesday for a total of more than 2.1 million cases and more than 35,000 deaths statewide since the beginning of the pandemic. More than 8.2 million people in Florida have been vaccinated so far, including more than 2.9 million people who have received a first dose and more than 5.3 million who have completed the series.The University of South Florida is studying whether those with a history of allergies are more at risk for severe reactions from COVID-19 vaccines.The Florida Senate continues to consider a bill that would increase the cap on unemployment benefits from $275 a week to $375 a week, although Gov. Ron DeSantis has voiced opposition to the move.Sarasota Health officials are holding a pop-up vaccine clinic on Saturday for 16 and 17-year-olds.Sarasota is currently experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 infections and reduced vaccine demand.

State health officials reported 4,237 new COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths on Monday. The latest single-day positivity rate reported by the state Division of Emergency Management increased to 10.84%, which is the highest reported since Jan. 28.More than eight million people in Florida have been vaccinated including more than 2.9 million who have received a first dose and more than 5.1 million people who have completed the series.Lee Health is now offering COVID-19 vaccine dose appointments to any Floridian 18 or older. The Health system is encouraging more people to get the vaccine and to continue following CDC guidelines as hospitalizations have increased in recent weeks.FEMA-run vaccine sites in Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa are now offering Pfizer vaccine doses with no appointment necessary.The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity reported Friday that Florida’s unemployment rate was unchanged in March, remaining at 4.7%. The jobs report indicates a slight uptick in the number of people deemed out of work, as the hospitality industry continues to lag in job growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Eight workers with a Sarasota-based tax preparation business have been arrested on coronavirus relief fraud charges. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office says they filed 114 fraudulent applications in an effort to receive more than $319,000 in federal CARES Act funding. Another Florida man alleged to have received more than $7.2 million in pandemic relief funds was arrested on an international warrant in Croatia.

State health officials reported 4,113 new COVID-19 cases Monday and 159 deaths, bringing the total number of infections to more than 1.8 million and bringing the death toll over the 30,000-fatality mark. Hospitals across Florida are experiencing a decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations, mirroring a national trend.U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate after Gov. Ron DeSantis authorized a state-run pop-up vaccine clinic limited to residents of an affluent, mostly white and Republican community in Manatee County.Four federal mass vaccination sites are coming to Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa.The city of Sarasota voted, last week, to allow its current mask mandate to sunset on Thursday.

Severe winter weather in other parts of the country continues to delay Moderna COVID-19 shipments to Florida. First dose appointments in Southwest Florida are temporarily postponed. Gov. Ron DeSantis faces criticism over a state-run pop-up vaccine clinic in Lakewood Ranch that targets residents of a community developed by one of the governor’s campaign contributors. Hospitals in Southwest Florida continue working to vaccinate people younger than 65 who are at higher risk from the virus. Health officials reported more than 7,000 new infections and 157 deaths, Wednesday. According to AAA, the pandemic continues to discourage Floridians from traveling. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody warns against COVID-19 vaccine scams.

State health officials reported 5,737 COVID-19 cases and 120 deaths, Monday. Currently more than two million people in Florida have received the vaccine including more than 1.3 million people who have received a first dose and nearly 694,000 people who have completed the series with two doses.Lee Health received 1,000 vaccine doses this week, primarily for people under 65 years old who are at higher risk from the virus. In Sarasota County, 7,000 vaccine doses will be administered this week primarily to people 65 and older who are awaiting a first dose.Physicians say even people who have contracted COVID-19 should get the vaccine because it remains unclear how long the vaccine provides immunity and because a second infection of the virus can be more severe.Also, there are several efforts available to help seniors navigate Florida’s online vaccine appointment registration system.

State health officials reported 11,615 COVID-19 cases, Wednesday, for a total of 1,601,011 infections.The Florida Department of Health also reported 142 coronavirus-related deaths, Jan. 20, increasing the statewide death toll to 24,965 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.

Sarasota County's new COVID-19 vaccine appointment registration system is set to launch at noon on Wednesday, Jan 20.The new system will assign appointments on a first come, first served basis and unlike the previous system, it allows people to sign up via telephone as well as online.