Over the hump? Florida sees higher vaccination numbers and lower case counts

By

Ethan Kispert

|

Data from the Florida Department of Health (Florida Health) shows both higher vaccination numbers over the past few weeks and lower case counts. 

 

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Week-to-week case counts have been on a downward trend since the start of October. 

According to Florida Health, the state saw 21,844 new cases from Oct. 23 to Nov. 5, a metric that dropped from 28,254 new cases between Oct. 9 and Oct. 22. 

Positivity rates for new tests appear to be heading downward as well. 

Data from Florida Health pointed to a 2.6% average positivity rate among tests administered between Oct. 23 and Nov. 5. This number saw a drop from a 3.3% positivity average for the period between Oct. 9 and Oct. 22. 

The number of total vaccine doses on a week-to-week basis remains relatively stable aside from a sudden jump to 441,167 doses between Oct. 16 and Oct. 22. For the week of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5, 398,949 total doses were administered, a number that hasn’t changed much from 399,734 total doses a week earlier. 

The total vaccination number, including those with only one dose or those who have received a booster, crossed the 14 million mark at 14,043,681. Florida hit this milestone during the week of Oct. 29 to Nov. 5. 

The Black population in Florida had the second highest case rate from Nov. 5 to Nov. 11 with 276 cases per 1 million people. White populations had the highest overall case rate during that period with 386 cases per 1 million people. 

According to Florida Health, the 30 to 39 year old age bracket accounted for 11,433 total vaccinations between Nov. 5 and Nov. 11. This age bracket, however, had the highest case rate with 618 cases per 1 million people during the same period. The 5 to 11 year old age bracket followed closely with 600 cases per 1 million people and 44,236 vaccinations for the same period. 

With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 5 to 11 year olds, health departments are already beginning to accept appointments for vaccinations.