In the US, the federal government is expected to release a plan for third SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses in the coming weeks. In the meantime, there seems to be a growing divide between near-stagnant vaccine hesitancy and people seeking unauthorized additional shots, the latter underlining a heightened anxiety over the Delta variant’s spread. According to reports, some people who received the J&J-Janssen vaccine have received additional doses of another authorized vaccine over fears the single-shot dose might not be as effective as others. And it appears some are going to great lengths to obtain extra doses by falsifying vaccine certificates, lying about their name or health insurance status, or traveling to other cities or states. Most experts stress that further research is warranted to determine the safety and efficacy of second or third doses and whether combining doses of various vaccines will provide substantial protection.
Florida in #1 nationally in terms of both total weekly incidence and mortality, representing 22% and 25% of the national total, respectively. Florida is also #1 nationally in terms of per capita weekly incidence with 733 new cases per 100,000 population, 3.5 times the national average (205).
CSSE is reporting 36,166,524 positive cases in the U.S. and 618,807 deaths.
