A more contagious new coronavirus mutation is spreading across Florida, and some people seeking new vaccinations to protect against the latest version of the virus will have to start paying immediately.
The federal government says it will run out of money to buy a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year.
The latest shots from Moderna and Pfizer, which received federal approval in late August, are better built to combat derivatives of the omicron variant of the virus. The original Omicron and its variants have accounted for virtually all of her COVID infections so far this year.
These vaccines target the BA.5 omicron subvariant. Although BA.5 faded over the summer, it resembles a crop of the latest viral mutations and may give recipients the latest viral mutations. The vaccine has stronger immunity compared to those who got the original vaccine designed for the original coronavirus, which was first discovered in Wuhan, China.
The United States purchased 171 million doses of the latest vaccine. Over 19.4 million people got these boosters. When supplies run out, many shot seekers will have to pay for vaccinations.
Before:New COVID omicron subvariant starting to grow in southeastern US
Down again: COVID numbers continue to drop in Florida
Long COVID: Why won’t my symptoms go away? why are they back? Am I long distance?
Several subvariants of Omicron are displacing BA.5 as the dominant strain
Derivatives of BA.5 — BF.7, BQ.1, and BQ.1.1 — have taken hold in Florida since August when they were first detected in COVID tests collected by the global GISAID initiative. A group dedicated to sharing COVID data quickly.
And in Singapore, another Omicron subvariant, XBB, has doubled the number of COVID cases in the Asian city-state since October 1. The mutation has been found in 45 tests across the United States, but has yet to be found in Florida.
Cases still trending downward while virus rises slightly in sewage
Meanwhile, Florida’s COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to fall as virus levels rise slightly in sewage in some areas of the state, according to new data released on Friday.
The number of COVID cases in the state has increased by an average of 10,028 cases each week since the state health department reported biweekly on October 7. This is his lowest since April 8th. Across the state he has more than 7.1 million people infected with the disease.
Hospitals across the state tended to treat 1,152 COVID-positive patients on Friday, the lowest since May 9. Her COVID deaths in Florida increased by an average of 258 each week since October 7, the lowest since June 17.
More than 16 million Florida residents have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, with over 6 million using boosters. These numbers have changed little since the summer.
Still, vaccine immunity is weakening. Previous studies have shown that protection begins to wear off after a few months. But despite the spread of these infectious mutations, Congress has not provided funding to cover the cost of a COVID vaccine, as demanded by the Biden administration.
Senate killed $10 billion in COVID money
In April, Florida Senator Marco Rubio joined 49 Republicans in the Senate to block a bill that would allocate $10 billion to keep the federal government buying COVID vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. rice field. Shotseeker cost.
Republicans in the Senate blocked efforts to keep vaccines free after Democrats failed to include a clause that would prevent President Biden from rescinding Trump-era restrictions on pre-vaccination. respiratory disease.
Val Demings, Rubio’s Democratic opponent in the November 8 election, voted in favor of the bill in the House of Representatives. Another Republican Senator from Florida, Rick Scott, is not running for re-election this year.
If federal funding for vaccines ends in January and the federal government declares a COVID public health emergency, millions of Americans will have to pay for previously free vaccinations. may become unavoidable.
“If you don’t have insurance, you don’t really have a mechanism to get vaccinated,” said Jennifer Cates, director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit that specializes in healthcare policy. said.
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Medicare, Medicaid Americans Still Get Free Shots
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 8% of Americans do not have health insurance.
The vaccine will be provided free of charge to Americans enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, the foundation said, as well as uninsured children under the CDC’s Children’s Vaccines Program.
However, some people with private insurance have to pay. Also, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, most private insurance plans are required to cover vaccines approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, Cates notes that the lapse of federal funding and the end of the state of emergency declaration could push private insurance premiums higher.
The federal government negotiated with Pfizer this summer to purchase shots for more than $30 a dose. plans to sell the vaccine for $110 to $130 per shot.
“It’s hard to pay for something that might pay off in the future,” Cates said of political resistance to increased federal spending on COVID vaccines.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has been maligning the COVID vaccine for nearly a year, but his state chief of surgery is not recommending a scientifically proven vaccine for most of Florida’s population.
“Florida’s Surgeon General does not recommend this for children under the age of 18,” DeSantis said at a press conference on Thursday. is.
Surgeon General Joseph Radapo has recommended that children and men under the age of 40 not be vaccinated. The medical expert points out that the analysis he cited for advice does not support his conclusion that vaccination causes fatal heart problems in men aged 18 to 39. increase.
Chris Persaud is a data reporter for the Palm Beach Post. Send an email to cpersaud@pbpost.com.
