UF Health Jacksonville CEO warns you can carry virus after vaccination

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. More women in Duval County come down with COVID-19 than men, which is contrary to the national trend. That was one finding announced Thursday by the head of UF Health Jacksonville.

Another important remark, dr. Leon Haley, CEO of UF Health, Jacksonville, said that even though you have received both doses of the vaccine, you can still carry the virus in your nose – which is why it is important that you still wear a mask.

UF Health has been sharing with the city council and other elected officials for ten months about what the Jacksonville pandemic is doing.

Hospital officials on Thursday revealed that the majority of patients in Jacksonville – 54% – are female.

Data provided by the hospital show that 23,000 COVID-19 patients are black

34,000 are white and 9,000 are another race.

Those who became ill ranged from infants to a 106-year-old who survived the disease.

The average age of a COVID-19 patient in Jacksonville is 38.

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Most of the concerns Thursday were around vaccines where Haley pointed out that people, even with two doses that protect them from developing symptoms, can still have infectious carriers of the virus.

‘The concern is that yes, there is a possibility that you could be completely vaccinated, but technically still be a carrier, especially in your nasal passages, and therefore the current recommendation even after you have been vaccinated is to wear a mask. must wear, ”Haley said.

Haley has so far said most people who have reactions or symptoms after vaccination get it after the second dose. But even then, the reactions are not serious.

“They only last a very short time. So you look at less than a day. And I think the thing people need to remember is that it’s actually OK, because if you have side effects, it means your body is responding. It’s trying to create an immune response, so it’s actually OK for you to have it, ‘Haley explained.

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He wanted to reassure people that the vaccines were safe.

But even in his own hospital, there was reluctance among employees to be vaccinated. Only 52% of hospital staff received shots, and Haley said that was not a question.

“We’re still working with a number of our team members,” Haley said. ‘There are a lot of our nursing staff who are worried, partly because there was unfortunately wrong information about the vaccine and pregnancy, and we have a lot of young nursing staff who are very worried, and of course we have a few people. who are concerned about vaccines in general. ”

Haley also recommends double masking for travelers, especially for those who have not yet been vaccinated.

“Until we can get enough people vaccinated, it’s very important that you wear your mask and wear two masks when you go traveling,” Haley said.