Vaccine

Holiday guests may bring unwanted viruses; experts urge vaccination now

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo recommend healthy children and adults under 65 avoid receiving the newest COVID-19 vaccine, which contradicts guidance from federal health officials that anyone six months or older should get the shot. Meanwhile, Lee Health plans to proceed by continuing to follow CDC guidance.

RSV and Covid cases are expected to be on the rise in coming weeks. Learn more about vaccines.

An influx of visitors and residents this time of year typically means more activity in hospitals, but Lee Health is experiencing a record-high number of hospitalized patients, prompting health system officials to urge people with only minor injuries or illnesses to avoid going to the ER and seek alternative paths to care.

The Tdap vaccine is critical to preventing Tetanus, especially for those who may have sustained cuts, scratches, or wounds from cleaning up debris after the hurricane and those whose last booster was 10 or more years ago.

Both Tdap and Flu vaccines will be available at no cost on a first come, first served basis during Lee County outreach events.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized on Wednesday an updated formula of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer and rival Moderna, which target today’s most common omicron strain.

So far more than 1,300 people in Florida have tested positive for monkeypox with the majority of cases stemming from South Florida. The vast majority of infections are in men who have sex with men. As this global epidemic grows, vaccine supply remains limited. The latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates Florida has the third highest number of confirmed monkeypox infections in the country. We’ll take a closer look in a conversation with Southwest Florida-based infectious disease specialist Dr. Douglas Brust.

The rate of new coronavirus infections statewide is relatively unchanged from two weeks ago, but the Lee Health and Sarasota Memorial hospital systems have been reporting slight increases in hospitalized COVID-19 patients over the last couple of months. Now they’re also preparing to provide vaccinations for young children ages six months to five years old and helping raise awareness about the availability of monoclonal antibody and antiviral treatments.

While the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Florida hasn’t changed much in the last two weeks, Lee Health and Sarasota Memorial Health Care System officials have been reporting a slight increase in hospitalized coronavirus patients in recent months. We’ll explore the latest pandemic trends, vaccinations and available treatments including antivirals and monoclonal antibody treatments.