Relief from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Vaccines and More

Dr. Kartik Cherabuddi, UF Health infectious disease expert addressed the concern that many immunocompromised people are wary of the vaccine as they are unsure if it is safe. “I haven’t found an immunocompromising condition that would preclude you from vaccination,” he stated in an article. “Every scientist, investigator, doctor has reviewed them in such great detail that if someone could find a significant issue with the trials themselves, they will become famous,” said Dr. Cherabuddi. Before the three COVID-19 vaccinations were released to the public, they went through a thorough review and still are being reviewed and studied. Dr. Cherabuddi also stated that the first dose of any of the three vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson) guarantees 40 to 50 percent protection from contracting the virus. This also lessens the spread of the Delta variant.

Vaccine Passports

The use of “vaccine passports” are up for debate by many. Some local governments and businesses are being banned from requiring proof that customers have been vaccinated against COVID-19. An article from CNN stated that Gov. Ron DeSantis banned the passports in an executive order. DeSantis touched on privacy and freedom concerns, stating that implementation and enforcement of vaccine passports worldwide “creates two classes of citizens based on vaccinations.” Dr. Mobeen H. Rathore, Chief Infectious Diseases and Immunology at Wolfson Children’s Hospital responded to the idea of vaccine passports, stating “It has to be an equitable availability of the vaccine before we can say that you will have to show me that you are vaccinated to do XYZ activity. At this point in time, I think it may be a little bit premature to be talking about that because, you know, you ask me for a vaccine passport, and I can’t get the vaccine, then I think that’s not fair. I think that’s not the right thing to do,” said Dr. Rathore. While much of the focus is on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, it is important to also remember to keep up on other immunizations. Dr. Rathore believes there is a benefit to the vaccination. “The risk of vaccine-preventable diseases is at an alltime high due to the decrease in childhood immunization rates during the coronavirus pandemic. My worst nightmare is an outbreak of measles, pertussis, or rotavirus on top of coronavirus,” he said in an article from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Long-Term Effects and Management Tools

Recent studies have found that some individuals who contracted COVID-19 have been experiencing long-term side effects. During a July 2021 webinar on the long-term effects of COVID-19, Dr. Kelli Tice, MD, Senior Medical Director of Medical Affairs at Florida Blue said some symptoms can linger even after a person who contracted COVID-19 goes through the quarantine period and then tests negative. Some of these lasting side effects include chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, headaches, loss of taste and smell, muscle weakness and even sensory hallucinations which fall into the category of neurological issues. “Sometimes it can be difficult for a physician to make sense of some COVID-19 symptoms, so a patient needs to be an advocate for themselves and keep their physician up to date,” stated Dr. Tice. Dr. Tice continued mentioning that proper hydration and the use of supplements have been good ways to help with an individual’s health and side effects.

Development and expansion of treatment centers continue throughout the country. The treatment centers are a place where those who have overcome COVID-19 go and have symptoms treated, rebuild strength and endurance, receive proper medications and receive needed support. Besides treatment centers, additional management tools include learning communities that are being built for COVID-19 survivors. One learning community, Survivor Corps, is a grassroots website that is dedicated to educating and supporting COVID-19 survivors. This website has a myriad of sections including medical research, post-COVID care, physician resources, COVID live webinars and resources provided by the CDC and National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Where the Vaccine Stands in Florida

Originally, the CDC recommended people over the age of 70, along with frontline workers, should have priority in receiving the vaccine. This included residents of long-term care facilities, but also allowed for healthcare workers, police, firefighters, and other essential workers to receive the vaccine. As the pandemic continued, the age requirement to receive the vaccination decreased so more people had the opportunity to get the vaccine. As of September 2021, the Pfizer vaccine was authorized for age 12 and older, while the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccines are authorized for those 18 and older. In April 2021, the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that the use of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine resume after stopping use temporarily. Our World in Data reported in September 2021 that 25.2 million dose of the vaccine were given in Florida, 11.5 million individuals fully vaccinated. As a whole, the United States has administered 376 million doses of the vaccine and 177 million people are fully vaccinated. For the most up-to-date information on the vaccines, it is best to contact the local health department.

How North Central Florida Has Responded

Vaccinations for COVID-19 are now being offered throughout Alachua, Columbia, and Marion counties as well as The Villages. Appointments for the vaccination can be made through a variety of locations including Publix, Winn-Dixie and CVS websites, as well as the Florida Department of Health (DOH).

**Research and updates of COVID-19 are ever-changing with updates occurring daily. For updated information visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website or consult local health departments.

Healthcare Industry is Thriving

The North Central Florida area is experiencing much growth and prosperity. This allows the community to expand and the healthcare industry to thrive. There are a multitude of developmental projects across the region for hospitals and clinics. With these projects, healthcare development brings a bustling economy to the community. As new jobs are created, additional career prospects become available for those seeking professions in the healthcare industry.

North Florida Regional Medical Center – Level III NICU

North Florida Regional Medical Center (NFRMC) recently moved from a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to a Level III NICU. This progression allows the hospital to care for critically ill babies of any age or weight that require advanced equipment for their healthcare needs. The progression of the hospital from a Level II NICU to a Level III NICU is the secondhighest designation available for a NICU. The Level III NICU will be staffed with two board-certified neonatologists and five advanced practice neonatal nurses as well as specialty-trained dieticians, occupational therapists, speech therapists and pharmacists on site. The NICU is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment including isolette beds complete with cameras, neonatal ventilators and cardiorespiratory monitoring. There are also radiology services and breast pumps available to

new mothers. “Our nursing team has been preparing for this special time by advancing their education and training to support our tiniest of patients,” said Krista Hatley, Vice President of Women’s and Children’s Services at NFRMC. “At North Florida Regional, we care like family. We have always been known for providing exceptional family-centered care because in a NICU, we are not only caring for the baby, but for the entire family. I am so incredibly proud of our team for everything they are doing to support our great community.”

Ocala Regional Medical Center

Ocala Regional Medical Center will be providing additional services to the community with a 49,091-square-foot expansion of new space as well as a renovation of an existing 9,976 square feet of space. This addition brings 36 inpatient beds, a 10-bed Neuro ICU unit, a 10-bed Neuro step-down unit, and a 16-bed general medical and surgical unit to the medical center. Twenty-nine thousand square feet of the new space is dedicated to cardiovascular inpatient services. Part of the existing areas under renovation include the current laboratory department and dining space. The West Marion campus of Ocala Regional Medical Center is also expanding with a 36-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit, expansion of the emergency department

with an addition of six low acuity beds and additional parking. This campus will be adding two cath labs, two electrophysiology suites and a hybrid operating room during their expansion. This 13,000-square-foot expansion includes the addition of a cath lab and a 10-bed pre-post cath lab recovery unit. Two additional operating suites complete with support areas will also grow the hospital’s footprint in the community. With the additional growth of residents in the area, Ocala Health has also acquired properties in the Trailwinds development of Wildwood, which could allow for construction of a 300-bed hospital. “Our focus is centered on delivering bestin-class healthcare to the communities we serve. We continue to diversify, enhance and expand access to our services to provide the advanced and highly specialized healthcare our patients need and have come to expect from Ocala Health,” said Chad Christianson, CEO, Ocala Health. “As the regional comprehensive stroke center, and with cardiovascular services being a foundational service at Ocala Health, we remain committed to investing in stateof-the-art facilities. Our patients are at the center of everything we do; whether we’re adding capacity, services, or sites of care, each investment increases our ability to better care for our communities.”

North Florida Regional Medical Center – Maternity Unit

North Florida Regional Medical Center recently opened a 30-bed postpartum and 10-bed antepartum unit in the hospital’s south tower. This $90 million project also included the addition of an 850-spot parking garage. The tower also has a new 30-bed orthopedic unit, an 18-bed intensive care unit and a 24-bed Level III neonatal intensive care unit. Each patient room has the most up-to-date technology including phone charger connections on the beds and Apple TV connections for the TV. North Florida CEO Eric Lawson said that patients can expect “concierge-level service” at the hospital, whether they’re delivering a baby, having surgery to replace a joint or wish to stay close to a loved one in intensive care.

Lake City Medical Center

Access to healthcare is growing in Columbia County as Lake City Medical Center gears up for another multi-million-dollar addition. Phase one of the project includes a 60,000-square-foot expansion. The new wing in this phase will have 12 beds for inpatient services with phase two adding 10 extra inpatient beds and 18 emergency room beds. The addition also allows for a new building that will include pharmacy, environmental and food services. “When you have care closer to home it saves lives,” said Interim CEO Jill Adams. “Time is very important when it comes to healthcare so having these services right here in Lake City/Columbia County and for the surrounding counties. It’s amazing and with our growth expansion is so needed so that you can be here throughout the entire stay.”

The Villages Health

Almost two dozen healthcare providers are expanding in The Villages and the borders of Wildwood. The Villages Health has added a ninth location to its practices located in the Lake Deaton Plaza Care Center. This location will provide both primary care services as well as multispecialty care services. With six existing primary care centers and two specialty care centers, The Villages Health continues to strive to provide top-notch medical care for both new and existing residents in The Villages. Priding themselves as a “one-stop-shop” patients can see their primary physician in one location as well as specialists, avoiding having to travel to multiple offices, which saves time and lessens stress. The Center for Advanced Healthcare at Brownwood recently opened in The Villages, adding 285,000 square feet of multispecialty care. The Center of Advanced Healthcare at Brownwood is near the Brownwood Town Square in The Villages community and sits on 31 acres. This cutting-edge ambulatory healthcare center offers a variety of services including urology, rheumatology, podiatry, neurology, interventional pain, gynecology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, cardiology and audiology. The Villages also has partnered with UF Health to build a new acute-care hospital and health campus. UF Health operates UF Shands at Gainesville and UF Health Jacksonville. Physicians that will be employed at the new hospital are currently completing internships at The Villages and Leesburg hospitals to have a well-rounded experience to best care for their patients when the new hospital opens. The Villages Health currently has more than 600 employees, 70 board-certified physicians and 60,000 patients.