‘It became sort of lawless': Florida vaccine rollout turns into a free-for-all

Posted 1/12/2021

Updated 3 yearss ago

‘It became sort of lawless’: Florida vaccine rollout turns into a free-for-all

States across the country, even as they race to finish vaccinating health care employees, nursing home residents and emergency workers, are under pressure from residents to reach a broader section of the public. Florida, which has already prioritized a large swath of its population to receive the vaccine, illustrates the challenges of expanding a vaccination program being developed at record speed and with limited federal assistance. More from the New York Times, the Center Square, and the Tampa Bay Times.

Doctors think Florida has more COVID-19 variant cases than we know of

There are two known COVID-19 variants spreading in the United States, including here in Florida, right now. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Florida has nearly half of the known cases in the U.S. of a mutated and likely more contagious variant of the coronavirus. The CDC says Florida now has 22 cases of that mutated virus. California has 26 cases, Colorado has two and New York and Georgia have each reported one case of the new variant. [Source: WLTX]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Colorectal cancer screening options

While colonoscopies are the most effective screening method for preventing and detecting colon cancer, an estimated 24 million Americans in the recommended age group avoid the test. For nearly 18 years, Nancy Culling was one of them. The 68-year-old retired teacher, who lives in Fort Myers with her husband, says the invasive nature of the test and the dreaded prep turned her off to the idea. [Source: Florida Trend ]

Health care providers excluded from Florida COVID-19 business liability bills

Companion House and Senate bills propose providing immunity from coronavirus-related lawsuits for Florida businesses that have “substantially” complied with public health guidelines. However, in an effort to fast-track the measures, both bills introduced this week exclude liability protections for health care providers, with Republican leaders in both chambers assuring separate legislation will address the medical industry. More from The Center Square and the Tallahassee Democrat.

Florida medical marijuana bill would reduce patient doctor visits to once a year

New legislation would save Florida medical marijuana patients the burden of visiting a doctor twice a year to maintain their status in the state's patient registry, a step industry advocates say is long overdue. Under SB 214 by Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg), patients would need only be examined annually by a state-certified medical marijuana physician. Disabled veterans would only be subject to biennial exams. [Source: Bay News 9]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Northeast Florida's first orthopedic and spine care specialty hospital now open [Florida Trend]
Northeast Florida’s first specialty hospital dedicated solely to orthopedic and spine care is now open to patients. The Performance Orthopedics and Spine Specialty Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent’s formally opened to patients on Monday, January 4. It is part of a broader partnership between Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast and Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo), in conjunction with Southeast Orthopedic Specialists.

› Tallahassee cancer doctor urges regular screenings despite fears and restrictions [WUSF]
A Tallahassee cancer doctor worries people are neglecting life-saving preventive care out of coronavirus fears. Tallahassee Memorial Health oncologist Dr. Tod Morris said he's watching media coverage of COVID-stressed hospitals with a lot of concern. "There are regions of the country that are currently in situations where there are no ICU beds available," he said. But Morris noted the volume of patients seeking routine treatments, including preventive procedures such as cancer screenings, is way down.

› What it’s like to donate plasma in Gainesville during the pandemic [WUSF]
Inside the Grifols Biomat USA Plasma Center, people from all over the community come to donate, with their stories, afflictions and motivations with them. Apart from safety protocols, the center has a relaxed feel. The walls are painted with earthy brown tones and decorated with art depicting trees and plants. You might think you’re at a spa.

› Mohr Capital acquires Accredo Health building in Orlando [Source]
Mohr Capital, a Dallas-based privately held real estate investment firm, has acquired a two-story, 78,449-square-foot office building in Lee Vista Business Park, a master-planned business park in Orlando, Florida. The facility was first developed in 2006 for CuraScript Inc., which merged with Accredo in 2012.