Nearly 50,000 people in Florida who received the first dose of coronavirus vaccine have expired for their second dose.
The two immunizations approved for emergency use in the United States – Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna – each require a booster shot three or four weeks apart.
According to the Florida Department of Health, approximately 1.03 million people received at least one stroke and more than 93,000 returned for the second jab.
However, a total of 45,056 lost their fire – a figure that has increased by 10% in the last three days, according to data from the health department.
Some health experts say that the elderly are late to go to the second meeting because they are afraid of serious side effects, such as fever, headache and chills.
Currently, there is no national database to track people waiting for the second blow, and Florida is the first state to announce this issue.
Of the 1.03 million people in Florida who received at least one stroke of the coronavirus vaccine, 45,056 expired for their second dose. Pictured: Medical worker administers Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Kathy Veltman at COVID-19 vaccination site at Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds in Plant City, Florida, January 13
Florida Department of Health declined to answer questions about whether officials are concerned and why people missed the second jab
Dr. Jason Salemi, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, told the South Florida Sentinel that it is unclear what it means for people to lose their fire without knowing why they are behind.
He said there could be a number of factors, including people not knowing when they will receive the second blow or even a gap in reporting.
“Without knowing ‘why’ here, it’s hard to know if it should be worrisome,” Salemi said.
“At the moment, I’m not worried, but if this number continues to increase … or the reasons for the lack of the second dose are worrying (for example, there are no doses available, people who can’t get to their schedule in time ), then I would make an effective brainstorming solution. ‘
However, some experts say they expected such a situation.
“I heard that there are some seniors who stop getting the second blow, because they heard that the side effects are more serious with the second blow,” the EMS medical director of Seminole County told WESH 2.
Data from clinical trials have shown that many volunteers receiving the second dose have more serious side effects, such as fever, headache, fatigue, chills and difficulty breathing.
However, officials say this is a sign that the vaccine is working and that the immune system is responding.
Husty told WESH 2 that the best solution is to educate the general public that the virus itself is much worse than side effects and that symptoms such as headaches or fever can be alleviated with Tylenol.
Jason Mahon, a Florida Department of Health spokesman, told the Sun Sentinel that 80 percent of people due for the second dose received it.
Health experts say some seniors may be worried about the side effects of taking the second dose, which is known to be stronger than the first. Pictured: Residents at Coral Gables Palace Care Center, Florida, wait in line to receive Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Jan. 12
In a statement on Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis urged vaccinated Floridians not to give up the second blow
However, he did not answer questions about why people are waiting or whether state officials are concerned.
The state Department of Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.
Dr. Joshia Lenchus, chief medical officer at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, told the Sun Sentinel that the two doses are spatial to give the body time to provide an immune response while reducing side effects.
The booster Pfizer is given 21 days after the initial dose, while the Moderna vaccine is given after 28 days.
Lenchus said there is a four-day window in which it is ideal to share the second photo, but he recommends taking it outside that window.
“I would suggest getting it again,” he told the Sun Sentinel.
“I wouldn’t walk around feeling protected in one fell swoop.”
In a statement posted on Twitter on Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis called on Floridians to receive the second dose
“While there is talk at the federal level about the distribution of vaccine doses and whether booster shots should be ‘retained,’ Florida is engaged in a two-dose regimen for both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines,” he wrote. he.
“A dose seems to offer some protection, but the 95% efficiency proved to be achieved only by taking the booster.
“This means that although the mode of distribution may change, the need for shooting will not be. Florida wants all seniors to receive booster photos at the right time.