USF

Researchers from USF Health recommend that schools resume mask mandates and that parents watch for signs of illness among children as the school year approaches.

It could be attributed in part to the slowing of vaccinations and scaling back of mitigation efforts.

Epidemiologist Jason Salemi says the large number of unvaccinated Floridians are at higher risk for serious infection as more transmissible strains of the virus spread rapidly in the community.

While false alarms are to be expected, such frequent charges for little if any treatment suggest some hospitals see the alerts as much as a money spigot as a clinical emergency tool, claims consultants say.

The state has vaccinated 64 percent of those over the age of 18, but vaccine hesitancy continues to be a barrier, especially among younger Floridians.

Said one health official: “Now that it has a foothold in Florida, it's just a matter of time before it becomes dominant. So it’s very concerning.”

Florida recently went from daily to weekly updates. Jason Salemi, a professor of epidemiology at the USF College of Public Health, talks about the changes.

Health experts say vaccine engagement efforts are helping build trust in communities, but there is still a lot of work to do. Trust and Vaccines, open to the public, delves into the issue Friday morning.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused nurses to leave the profession or retire and federal officials estimate there will be a need for 1.1 million new nurses by 2022.

Researchers say the goal of the study is to improve health messaging so hospitals and health agencies can better connect with the community.