In Palm Beach county, the trend has been the same. In April, an average of 50,991 were getting final shots each week compared with 21,265 in the past seven days.
The falling interest has frustrated local officials, who have set their sights on vaccinating 75% to 85% of the county’s 1.5 million residents to achieve herd immunity.
On Friday, 41.2% of state residents over the age of 15 were fully vaccinated while in the county it was 43.3%. Everyone over the age of 12 can now be vaccinated.
Baker, who has spent the past 14 months coordinating the county’s response to the pandemic, said she worries that without continued vigilance, cases will spike.
“You want to keep your business open,” she said. “If you have a mass infection, you can’t keep your business open.”
Further, she said, while the number of people who get COVID-19 after getting vaccinated is extremely low, it happens.
Dr. Alina Alonso, director of the county’s state-run Health Department, said 375 so-called breakthrough cases have been reported in the county and 4,486 throughout the state.
That is about a half of a percent of all the people who have been vaccinated.
Despite the CDC’s guidance, Baker said she is hopeful county residents will continue to wear masks while inside stores and businesses.
The end of the pandemic is so close, she said she doesn’t want overconfidence to wipe out all the progress that has been made.
“I’m still struggling with it,” she said of the CDC’s recommendation. “I just haven’t made up my mind.”
jmusgrave@pbpost.co
COVID by the numbers
3,590 — New cases logged in Florida on Friday, pushing the seven-day total to 23,605 the lowest weekly increase since Oct. 23.
183 — Additional cases reported in Palm Beach county.
3.05% — Palm Beach county’s daily positivity rate.
4.15% — The statewide daily positivity rate.
2,286,203 — People in Florida who have been diagnosed with the disease, about 10.4% of the population.
146,329 — People in Palm Beach county who have tested positive, about 9.6% of the population.
36,719 — Deaths in Florida, including 71 that were reported Friday.
2,869 — Fatalities in the county, including five that were added on Friday.
7,415,135 — People in Florida who are fully vaccinated. Another 2,066,446 are awaiting second doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
546,930 — People in the county who are fully vaccinated. Another 146,380 still need second shots.
41.2% — Approximate percentage of state residents over the age of 15 who are fully vaccinated.
43.3% — Approximate percentage of county residents over the age of 15 who are fully vaccinated.
42.9% — Percentage of people in the nation over the age of 12 who are fully vaccinated.
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