The number of people receiving their first COVID-19 vaccination has significantly slowed during the last week, and local health department officials say vaccine hesitancy, and possible access may be the culprits.
From April 20-26, an average of 538 people per day received a first dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine. In March, 1,416 people per day received their first dose and so far in April the average is 1,246 per day.
That means 62% fewer people on average received their first dose each day during the past week when compared to the daily average in March. And last week s number is 56.8% lower than the average daily rate so far in April.
Florida health records show spotty vaccination data at state level clickorlando.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from clickorlando.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
About 2% of all COVID-19 vaccination shots put into the arms of Marion County residents have been the one-dose Johnson & Johnson, which has been temporarily suspended by federal regulators.
Federal drug safety regulators recommended the U.S. pause use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after extremely rare reports of blood clots in people who get the vaccine, according to a USA Today report.
Those regulators, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are investigating six cases involving vaccinated women ages 18 to 48 who developed blood clots six to 13 days after vaccination.
One woman died, and another remains in critical condition, federal health officials said. Many millions of J&J vaccines have been administered throughout the nation, thus the number of cases with complications is very low.
(EDITOR S NOTE: This story has been changed to reflect the correct number of first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that has been given to local residents.)
Marion County has fully vaccinated more people with the COVID-19 vaccine than the total number of positive cases that have been identified locally since the pandemic began, state records show.
Meanwhile, the seven-day positivity rate dropped below 8% on Thursday for the first time since Nov. 17 and the seven-day average number of daily cases was below 100 for the fourth straight day.
There were two deaths reported Thursday, down from seven on Wednesday, 16 on Tuesday and 14 on Wednesday.
Marion County records 121 new COVID cases on Wednesday ocala.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ocala.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.