COVID-19 vaccine

Our expert panel discusses pressing issues like a sharp rise in syphilis cases, the widening gender gap in life expectancy and the intricacies of COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

Public health initiatives have long been divisive, but the pandemic turned up the volume to painful levels in Florida, Texas and other states amid a surge of growing mistrust of scientific institutions.

People can still get proof of vaccination from a doctor or state health department. Health officials recommend keeping your card in a safe place if you still have one.

Adult doses got shipped first, CDC director Mandy Cohen said. Doses for the under-12 set have begun shipping, and “the supply is filling out.”

Faced with a slow rollout of the updated vaccines and without state mandates for workers to get vaccinated, most skilled facilities are relying on persuasion to boost vaccination rates among staff and residents.

COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone through the Affordable Care Act. But before you make the trip to your local pharmacy, check and see if your health insurance will cover it.

Some people have had to cancel appointments because their insurance hasn’t updated the billing codes to cover the vaccines. Others signed up for an appointment, only to have it canceled due to supply issues.

PolitiFact Florida reviewed more than two dozen Gov. Ron DeSantis press releases and news conferences from 2020 and 2021 about the vaccine rollout.

The emergency response mechanisms that supported earlier vaccine campaigns are gone. As one expert wonders: How do we get boosters to people beyond Democrats, college graduates, and those with high incomes?

Days after the CDC recommended a broad rollout of the vaccine, state Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued guidance that recommended against individuals under 65 from taking the shot.