The state of Florida saw its first shipments of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine distributed and administered this past week.

According to the Florida Department of Health, as of Monday at 7 a.m., 43,716 people had been given the first of two doses of the vaccine.

In Lee County, 25 residents had received the vaccine as of Monday. DOH’s report breaks down how many vaccines were given each day, along with age, race and gender.

Of the nearly 44,000 vaccines administered as of Monday, 10,134 went to those ages 35-44; 9,719 to those 45-54; 9,131 to those 25-34; 8,825 to those 55-64; 3,171 to those 65-74; 1,642 to those 75-plus and 1, 094 to those 16-24.

According to the state, 1,873 vaccines were given on Monday. On Dec. 18, 13,040 vaccines were administered following 12,784 the day before. The first were given on Dec. 15 (2,589).

As of press time Monday, Lee Health did not respond to a request inquiring about vaccine distribution in Lee County.

By the Numbers

As of Monday afternoon, there are 1,212,581 total cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Florida, an increase of 11,015 since FDOH’s last update Sunday. 

Test results reported to the Department of Health on Sunday, Dec. 20, resulted in a 8.45 positivity rate. Positivity rates in new cases have topped 7% for 24 consecutive days. Percent positivity rates in new cases have been over 5% since Oct. 29. 

The state saw its highest daily percentage of positive patients July 8, when 18.50 percent of tests reported were positive among 51,686 tests. 

Of those testing positive, 60,152 Florida residents have been hospitalized at some point during their illness according to the state.

The death toll increased by 115 from Sunday’s report, brining the total number of deaths, both resident and non-resident, to 20,976.

In Lee County, 37,170 individuals (+375) have tested positive as of Monday’s update. 

Positive COVID-19 cases in the county have ranged from infants to a 103-year-old. Lee County saw its first two cases on March 7, when a man and a woman, each 77, tested positive. They had traveled to the Dominican Republic.

There have been 637 deaths in Lee County. No new deaths were reported Monday.

As of Monday afternoon, Lee Health had 144 COVID-19 patients isolated in system inpatient hospitals, including 46 new admissions and 58 discharges over the weekend. 

A total of 3,856 patients who had tested positive have been discharged since the beginning of the pandemic.

On Sunday, Lee Health had a 25.7% positivity rate on COVID-19 tests processed through Lee Health Labs. This represents Lee Health results only, not Lee County as a whole. Hospital positivity rates tend to be higher as the tests are performed on patients seeking treatment for a health issue, not the general public that includes asymptomatic individuals.

Census as of Monday afternoon was at 83% of staffed operational bed capacity, with 11.9% of those being COVID-19 patients. Staffed operational capacity reflects the number of beds for which the hospital has adequate staffing, not the total number of beds within Lee Health hospitals. Overall bed capacity fluctuates hour to hour as the system discharges patients throughout the day who are ready to go home.

As of Monday, 77% of ventilators and 30% of ICU rooms are available for use across Lee Health facilities.

As of Monday, there were 12 COVID-19 patients on ventilators and 25 in the intensive care unit.

COVID-19 is a highly contagious viral disease. For most individuals, symptoms are mild. For a minority, the disease becomes a type of viral pneumonia with severe complications. Especially at risk are those who are older, those with underlying health conditions and the immune-compromised.

Officials strongly urge all members of the public who are at risk to remain at home so as to limit exposure. All others are urged to observe social distancing and to wear a mask for all public interactions.

For more detail on Florida resident cases, visit the live DOH Dashboard.

To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, visit the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control, visit the CDC COVID-19 website. For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, visit the travel advisory website.

For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

— Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj