COVID 19 Vaccine Updates
Update 04/14/21
Headlines regarding the COVID pandemic continue to be centered on the presence
of significant surges around the globe, the impact of variants on case
rates and therapies, and the development of new therapies. In addition,
the FDA and CDC have recommended pausing the use of the J+J vaccine in
the US due to the occurrence of rare cases of blood clotting associated
with low platelet counts.
Statewide Metrics
- There were 5,558 new cases on 4/10 and 41,896 in the week ending 4/4 (increasing).
- There were 3,023 patients hospitalized on 3/29 (increasing).
- The percent positive rate averaged 7.47% for the week ending 4/4 (increasing).
- The retransmission rate (Rt) is 1.1 on 4/10 (stable).
- 7.2 Million individuals have received at least one vaccine dose.
Palm Beach County Metrics
- There were 346 new cases on 4/10 and 2,778 new cases for the week ending
4/4 (increasing).
- The positivity rate was 6.93% for the week ending 4/4 (increasing).
- 528,000 individuals have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
Jupiter Medical Center
- There are 10 patients currently hospitalized at JMC with COVID-19.
- 5 patients are in the ICU (2 requiring ventilators and 3 requiring BiPAP).
- We tested 328 patients this week in our urgent care centers for COVID (9.7%
increase).
Global Surges
There continue to be significant surges around the globe. Important factors
are believed to be the impact of variants, the easing of social distancing
and mask requirements, and the challenges of vaccinating populations in
a timely manner. India is setting records of 68,912 new cases per day.
Only 1% of their population is vaccinated. Additional surges are being
seen in Europe, Brazil, and the Philippines.
There continue to be increasing new case numbers and hospitalizations in
the US. 5 states account for 42% of the new cases (Michigan, New York,
Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey). Case rates for children under
19 are at record rates. Epidemiologists have identified school sports
as a major source of spread.
Variants
The variants continue to play a critical role in the pandemic. They are
a major factor in the new surges that have occurred. The CDC has developed
a classification system based on the characteristics of the variants and
resulting actions and consequences for public health. The 3 categories
are variants of interest, variants of concern, and variants of high consequence.
There are currently 5 variants of concern and no variants of high consequence
in the US.
Israel has published new data that indicates that the South African variant
is breaking through the Pfizer vaccine in Israeli study. The study compared
over 400 people who tested positive more than 14 days after receiving
one or two doses of the vaccine compared to the same number of unvaccinated
patients with COVID. They found that the prevalence rate of the variant
was 8x higher in the vaccinated versus the unvaccinated group (5.4 vs
0.7%). This suggests that the vaccine is less effective against the South
African variant.
Vaccines
The FDA and the CDC have now recommended pausing the use of the J+J vaccine
due to the presence of rare cases of blood clotting associated with low
platelet counts. There have been 6 cases reported in women between 18
and 48 years of age who had received the vaccine between 6 and 13 days
prior to developing the blood clots. These events are similar to the ones
seen with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Both of these vaccines use the adenovirus
vector as the framework for the vaccine. A possible mechanism for the
clotting is that the antibodies stimulated by these vaccines are binding
to platelets and causing the body to inappropriately destroy platelets,
which are a key element in the normal clotting process. A similar issue
is seen in some patients who receive heparin. This story is just coming
out and we will be following developments closely.
Pfizer has requested the FDA to expand the emergency use of their COVID
vaccine to adolescents aged 12 to 15. Pfizer had reported that the vaccine
was found to be safe, effective and produced a robust antibody response
in 12 to 15 year olds in a clinical trial involving 2,260 patients. The
vaccine was 100% effective in preventing illness in the trial.
China’s top disease control official acknowledged that the currently
available Chinese vaccines do not have high protection rates at preventing
symptomatic COVID infections. The efficacy rates reported by the companies
have ranged from 50-79%. The threshold considered necessary for vaccines
is at least 50%. He stated that mixing vaccines is among strategies being
considered to boost their effectiveness. In addition, mRNA vaccines developed
in China are now entering clinical trials.
Therapy
Regeneron has reported that their antibody therapy Regen-COV reduced the
risk of developing symptomatic COVID by 81% compared with placebo in people
living with someone infected with COVID. They will ask the FDA to approve
its use in people exposed to the virus who have not been vaccinated.
On April 8th, the NIH COVID-19 Guidelines Panel recommended the use of combination
anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies to treat outpatients with mild to
moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of clinical progression. The treatment
should be administered as soon as possible after a positive COVID test
and within 10 days of symptom onset. The panel recommends against the
use of monotherapy with bamlanivimab due to variant resistance.
World’s Best Hospitals 2021
Newsweek has released its
World’s Best Hospitals 2021 list (see cover below). Utilizing criteria selected by medical experts from around the world (United
States, Germany, France, Switzerland and Israel), the publication partnered
with Statista (a global data research firm) to compile this group.
The criteria included:
- Medical KPI’s (key performance indicators)
- Patient surveys
- Recommendations from medical experts (doctors, hospital managers, health
care professionals)
Using these criteria, approximately top 2% of the 164,500 hospitals globally
and roughly top 5% (world class) of the 6,090 hospitals in the Unites
States were identified.
I am proud to announce that Jupiter Medical Center is honored on this list
and is the only hospital representing Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
According to Newsweek, the World’s Best Hospitals stand out for their
consistent excellence, including distinguished physicians, top notch nursing
care and state-of-the-art technology.
Given the enormity of the obstacles presented by the Covid-19 pandemic
and the challenges inherent in launching new programs (cardiac surgery,
medical oncology, women’s & children’s), this is an incredible
achievement by our medical staff and the entire Jupiter Medical Center team.
Update 04/05/21
Jupiter Medical Center has received additional supply of the Pfizer vaccine
and is now accepting appointment requests
for first dose vaccinations via our electronic process.
Applicants need to be residents of either Palm Beach or Martin counties
and show proof of residency at the appointment.
You must provide your current email and cell phone number on submission forms.
This is required to receive an appointment.
Jupiter Medical Center will send an email notification and a text message
reminder to eligible applicants within three (3) business days of receipt
of the form.
Please reference our
FAQ page and/or
Pfizer Fact Sheet for Recipients for additional information.
Community Members Age 18 and Over
Complete the
COVID-19 Vaccination Request to Schedule Form
Update 03/30/21
A Message from the CEO Amit Rastogi, MD, MHCM
The critical elements of the Covid pandemic are the occurrence of significant
new global surges, the proliferation of variants and the race to vaccinate
populations as a mitigation strategy.
Florida Metrics
- There were 4,943 new cases on 3/28 and 35,551 in the week ending 3/21 (increasing).
- There were 2,871 patients hospitalized on 3/29 (stable).
- The percent positive rate averaged 6.62% for the week ending 3/21 (increasing).
- The retransmission rate (Rt) is 1.1 on 3/28 (increasing).
- 5.6 million individuals have received at least one vaccine dose.
Palm Beach County Metrics
- There were 369 new cases on 3/28 and 2,551 new cases for the week ending
3/21 (increasing).
- The positivity rate was 6.6% for the week ending 3/21 (increasing).
- 415,000 individuals have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
Jupiter Medical Center Metrics
- There are 14 patients currently hospitalized at JMC with Covid-19.
- 2 patients are in the ICU (both requiring BiPAP).
- We tested 316 patients this week in our urgent care centers for Covid-19
(17% increase).
COVID Surges
There continue to be significant surges around the world, Europe has been
hit hard in the most recent uptick. New case rates have exceeded 1,000
new cases/100,000 population (the current rate in the US is 127.4/100,000).
In response, France has imposed a partial lockdown and Italy has announced
a full Easter lockdown. Physicians in France have warned that ICUs will
likely be overwhelmed and care rationing may need to be implemented. South
America has also seen a significant increase in cases and Brazil’s
healthcare system is strained with >80% of ICU beds being filled. These
trends are important to monitor because prior surges in Europe predated
surges in the US by 2-3 weeks.
After a plateau had been reached following the surge in December/January,
there has been a recent uptick in the US new case rates by 6.7% week over
week (March 24). Florida’s new case rate has also started trending
up as has the percent positive rate for testing. In addition, the reproduction
rate (Rt) has increased to 1.1 in Florida, which also indicates that new
cases are increasing. The contributions of variants versus other factors
is not clear and Spring break/Easter gatherings may contribute to an increase
in case numbers. It is not believed that vaccinations have reached levels
necessary to prevent surges.
Variants
Variants continue to be of concern because of the increased transmissibility
of some of the strains, the possibility of variants causing more severe
disease, and the potential for allowing vaccine escape. The most recent
data from the CDC demonstrates that the B.1.1.7 variant may now account
for >20% of Covid cases in the US. The graph below shows the significant
increase in this variant of concern since January 1st. This variant has
been found to be 50% more transmissible than the baseline virus and some
reports have demonstrated a higher mortality rate from this variant (which
was first identified in Great Britain). As of February 27th, 13.2% of Covid cases in Florida were identified as B.1.1.7.

An important recent finding has been the significantly impaired effectiveness
of single agent monoclonal antibody therapy against the Covid variants.
A recent study demonstrated that bamlanivimab was not effective in vitro
against viruses containing the mutations of the B.1.1.7 (UK) or the B.1.351
(South African) variants. Based on this information, the US has halted
the distribution of the single monoclonal antibody agent. It appears that
combination monoclonal antibody therapies continue to demonstrate efficacy
against the variant strains and the use of these products in outpatients
with mild to moderate disease should still be considered. An additional
disappointing finding is the decreased effectiveness of convalescent plasma
against the variant strains, particularly against the South African variant.
Vaccinations
In an effort to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 surges and variants, significant
progress continues in vaccinating our citizens. Nationally, 2.5 million
vaccines are being administered each day. In Florida, 25.8% of the population
has received at least one dose. As of Monday March 29th, persons 40 years of age and older are eligible for vaccines and as of
April 5, persons 18 years of age and over will be able to be vaccinated
in Florida. Jupiter Medical Center continues to provide vaccinations to
our community in line with the state guidelines. Our primary focus in
recent months has been providing vaccines to individuals with comorbidities
that make severe disease more likely. We are now expanding our recipient
pool based on state and federal guidelines. We are proud that we have
been able to provide this critical service to our community.
Doctor’s Day
On behalf of all JMC team members and our boards, I would like to thank
our entire medical staff for their tireless efforts during the pandemic.
The dedication and commitment of our physicians in collaborating with
us to develop Covid safety/treatment protocols, vaccine prioritization
and most importantly, selflessly taking care of our sickest patients,
proved to be an invaluable asset to our community when we needed them the most.
Happy Doctor’s Day!
Visiting Hours Updates
Effective March 15, 2021
The health and safety of our patients, visitors, team members and community
is our top priority, our visitor policy is as follows:
- Inpatients will be allowed one designated visitor from 1pm - 5pm. and will
enter through the East Entrance. Upon arrival, visitors will be screened,
provide identification, are required to wear a mask and will be directed
to the patients room where they will need to remain during their visit.
- Labor & Delivery and Pediatric patients may have one visitor accompany
them during their stay.
- Parents with an infant in the neonatal ICU will be allowed to be with their
infant, one parent at a time.
- Other exceptions, including visits to hospice, will be considered on a
case-by-case basis.
Visitors who are sick are not permitted to enter the hospital, without
exception. Visitors will be screened at the time of arrival.
Hospital Entrance
All visitors are now being directed to enter the hospital through the East Entrance.
Update 03/2/21
A Message from the CEO Amit Rastogi, MD, MHCM
News concerning vaccines continues to be the dominant theme concerning
the Covid pandemic and there are numerous developments.
- A third vaccine developed by Johnson and Johnson (J&J) has been approved
in the US and shipments have begun this week.
- Pfizer was granted permission by the FDA to store their vaccine in regular
freezers for up to 2 weeks.
- Trials are currently underway involving individuals in the 12-18 age range.
It is believed that the emergency use authorization may be extended to
this group before the next school year begins.
- Vaccination for younger children may require full evaluation by the FDA
rather than an emergency use authorization, due to the lower risk of Covid
in these individuals.
- In Florida, Governor DeSantis announced that police, firefighters, and
teachers over 50 years of age are now able to receive vaccinations at
four FEMA sites in Florida.
Statewide Metrics
- There were 1,817 new cases on 2/28 and 40,000 in the week ending 2/21 (decreasing).
- There were 3,687 patients hospitalized on 3/2 (decreasing).
- The percent positive rate averaged 6.39% for the week ending 2/21 (decreasing).
- The retransmission rate (Rt) is 0.92 on 2/28 (stable).
- 3 million individuals have received at least one vaccine dose.
Palm Beach County Metrics
- There were 412 new cases on 2/27 and 3,140 new cases for the week ending
2/21 (decreasing).
- The positivity rate was 6.67% for the week ending 2/21 (decreasing).
- There was a decrease in Covid-like illness cases to 435 for the week ending
2/21 (decreasing).
- 265,000 individuals have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
Jupiter Medical Center
- There are 13 patients currently hospitalized at JMC with Covid-19.
- 2 patients are in the ICU (1 requiring ventilator support and 1 requiring
BiPAP support).
- We tested over 400 patients this week in our urgent care centers for Covid.
Covid-19 vaccines and variants
The J&J Covid vaccine received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from
the FDA on February 28th after the FDA advisory panel unanimously recommended that action on Friday.
The CDC director approved the vaccine on Sunday and distribution of up
to 4 million doses of the vaccine has begun this week. The J&J vaccine
is based on viral vector technology. A common cold virus called adenovirus
26 is genetically engineered to cause human cells to manufacture a fragment
of the Covid spike protein. This causes the body to develop an immune
response to the spike protein and thus Covid. The altered adenovirus does
not cause recipients to develop a cold. Advantages of this vaccine are
that it only requires one shot and it can be kept in regular refrigerators
for up to 3 months. It is also significantly less expensive than the Pfizer
or Moderna vaccines. Protection from the J&J vaccine begins about
two weeks after the shot; zero hospitalizations or deaths were seen by
four weeks after the dose.

The EUA request was based on a Phase 3 trial involving 44 thousand individuals.
The vaccine is highly effective in the prevention of severe/critical Covid
disease. The vaccine prevented all hospitalization and deaths 28 days
after vaccination and is highly effective against the South African variant.
The vaccine also has an excellent safety profile. Based on this data,
individuals should be vaccinated with any of the three vaccines that have
received emergency use authorization, J&J, Moderna or Pfizer. All
three are highly effective at preventing severe Covid disease and its
complications.
As vaccine production accelerates, the important topic of the vaccination
of children against Covid is coming to the forefront. Moderna and Pfizer
began enrolling children 12 years of age and older in clinical trials
and plan to have results by the summer. The FDA will then review the results
of these trials before deciding to extend the emergency use authorizations
to this population. Only 1% of Covid deaths occur in individuals under
21 years of age. However, about 2% of children who develop Covid require
hospitalization and 227 children have died of Covid. Moving below 12 years
of age will likely require new studies and modifications of the doses
due to an enhanced response in children. It is likely that the FDA will
perform a complete analysis related to children under 12 years of age
and that the approval would not occur in the form of an EUA.
In Florida, Governor DeSantis announced that police, firefighters, and
teachers over the age of 50 will be able to receive vaccinations at the
4 FEMA centers located in Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa. He
also extended the vaccine program for at risk individuals under the age
of 65 with comorbidities to physicians, advanced practice providers, and
pharmacies. This will require availability of vaccine doses at these sites
before operationalization and a state form completed by a provider.
Jupiter Medical Center continues to be active in both the prevention and
treatment of Covid disease. We are continuing with the very successful
program to vaccinate individuals under 65 years of age with comorbidities
in partnership with community physicians. We anticipate continuing to
provide this important service to our community based on vaccine allocations
from the state. In addition, we are one of the few hospitals in the region
that continues to provide monoclonal antibody therapy early in Covid disease
to prevent hospitalizations and severe disease. Our teams continue to
provide outstanding care to patients with moderate and severe Covid disease
who require hospitalization. We are very proud of the sustained response
to the pandemic by all members of the JMC family.
Update 02/25/21
Jupiter Medical Center received a limited supply of COVID 19 vaccine. The
focus was on patients
age 18-64, residing in Palm Beach or Martin Counties, and have
comorbidities. We have completely exhausted our supply of vaccine. If you
were not contacted with an appointment time, we reached capacity and are
no longer scheduling appointments.
To keep phone lines open for medical emergencies, please continue to check
this page for updates. Thank you for your patience and continued support
of Jupiter Medical Center.
Update 02/17/21
A Message from the CEO Amit Rastogi, MD, MHCM
The dominant themes concerning the COVID-19 pandemic are the significant
reduction in cases and hospitalizations from the peak levels of the recent
surge, the progress towards vaccination of the population, and the impact
of COVID-19 variants. In the U.S., vaccine supply constraints are beginning
to ease as production accelerates and vaccination channels proliferate.
Over 10% of the US population (37 million people) has received at least
one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In Florida, 2.3 million individuals have
received at least one dose (10% of the population). Unfortunately, Florida
also has the most confirmed cases of the U.K. variant, with 347 cases
reported as of February 11. We are watching the data very closely as the
U.K. variant is expected to be the dominant strain in the U.S. by March.
It is certainly possible that another surge could be the result and it
is essential that we continue to protect ourselves and our community.
Statewide Metrics
- There were 3,615 new cases on 2/15 (decreasing).
- There were 4,689 patients hospitalized on 2/14 (decreasing).
- The percent positive rate averaged 7.25% for the week ending 2/7 (decreasing).
- The retransmission rate (Rt) is 0.91 on 2/14 (stable).
Palm Beach County Metrics
- There were 333 new cases on 2/15 and 3,382 new cases for the week ending
2/7 (decreasing).
- The positivity rate was 7.32% for the week ending 2/7 (decreasing).
- There was a decrease in COVID-like illness cases to 502 for the week ending
1/31 (decreasing).
Jupiter Medical Center
- There are 15 patients currently hospitalized at JMC with COVID-19.
- 3 patients are in the ICU (1 requiring BIPAP).
- We tested over 400 patients this week in our urgent care centers for COVID-19.
Covid-19 vaccines and variants
Early data from COVID-19 vaccinations is giving hope to people across the
globe. Some of the most compelling data is coming from Israel, which has
vaccinated over half of eligible residents (3.5 million people) with 69.4
doses per 100 people. In contrast, the rate in the U.S. is 15.4 doses
per 100 people. Over 90% of individuals over age 60 have been vaccinated
in Israel, resulting in a 40% drop in confirmed new cases and a 30% drop
in hospitalizations. This is compared to a 12% drop in new cases and a
5% drop in hospitalizations in a younger age group, in which only 30%
have been vaccinated.
There is also data which indicates that vaccinated individuals are far
less likely to spread the virus. In Moderna’s phase 3 trial, there
was an 89% reduction in asymptomatic and symptomatic cases prior to the
second dose of the vaccine.
Clearly, vaccination is an important way to reduce one’s risk related
to Covid and many who have been vaccinated are wondering what they can
safely do following vaccination. There is evidence that maximum protection
occurs about 3 weeks following the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine,
which should also be applicable to Moderna.

It continues to be unknown how long immunity from full vaccination will
last. It is very possible that a yearly booster will be required. It is
also possible that an additional dose of a modified vaccine tailored to
the variant strains will also be necessary.
The CDC has advised that people who have received the full course of COVID-19
vaccines can skip the standard 14-day quarantine after exposure to someone
with infection, as long as they remain asymptomatic.
While the aforementioned provides significant optimism, there are individual
differences in development of immunity following vaccination. Furthermore,
the detection of new variants raises concern of vaccine efficacy against
these variants. Viruses constantly mutate, but particular combinations
of mutations can result in vaccine escape. Influenza, which mutates much
faster than coronavirus, requires modification of flu shots every year,
resulting in development of a global flu vaccine system. Similar tracking
will need to be established for COVID-19 and fortunately, the vaccines
are based on a flexible technology that can be updated for booster development
as needed.
As a result, vaccinated individuals should continue to wear masks, socially
distance, and avoid large gatherings to decrease transmission and the
risk of acquiring COVID-19.
The U.S. continues to ramp up the pace of vaccinations. Experts have stated
that vaccinations could become widely available by May. The government
has begun shipping vaccine to pharmacies. In phase one, one million doses
were sent to 6,500 pharmacies. 21 pharmacy networks including over 40,000
pharmacies are participating in the program. CVS, Walgreens, Walmart,
and Publix pharmacies are included in the program. Many pharmacies already
provide vaccinations for illnesses such as the flu and shingles. It is
believed that the pharmacies could administer up to 100 million doses
of COVID-19 vaccine a month. It is estimated that over 70% of the U.S.
population could have received at least one dose by mid-September.
In Florida, pharmacies are focusing on vaccinating those over age 65 while
some hospitals are being asked to partner with state organizations to
focus on providing vaccination to individuals under age 65 with serious
comorbidities. Jupiter Medical Center is proud to be one of the hospitals
serving this group. In the first phase of this initiative, we have partnered
with hundreds of community physicians to vaccinate at-risk individuals
that they identify as most vulnerable. Later this week, JMC will be launching
the next phase, which will provide direct community outreach to this population
via our website. Details will be posted on our website in the upcoming days.
These developments continue to offer hope for a return to a more normal
state over the next 6-9 months. Continued vigilance and compliance with
masks, social distancing, and avoiding large groups remains important
in the fight against the pandemic.
As always, thank you for your continued support of Jupiter Medical Center.
Update 02/03/21
COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and Florida continue their downward trend. In
Florida, new cases, percent positivity, and hospitalizations have all
been decreasing over the past 3 weeks. We expect this trend to continue
as vaccination efforts accelerate.
Statewide Metrics
- There were 70,727 new cases during the week ending 1/24 (decreasing).
- There were 6,109 patients hospitalized on 2/2 (decreasing).
- The percent positive rate averaged 9.26% for the week ending 1/24 (decreasing).
- The retransmission rate (Rt) is 0.91 on 2/2 (decreasing).
Palm Beach County Metrics
- There were 349 new cases on 2/1 and 4,899 new cases for the week ending
1/24 (stable).
- The positivity rate was 9.09% for the week ending 1/24 (stable).
- There was a decrease in COVID-like illness cases to 661 for the week ending
1/24 (decreasing).
Jupiter Medical Center
- There are 23 patients currently hospitalized at JMC with COVID-19.
- 4 patients are in the ICU (1 requiring ventilator support and 1 requiring
BIPAP support).
- We tested over 500 patients last week in our urgent care centers for COVID-19,
a 50% decrease since last month
Covid-19 vaccines
In the U.S., 26 million people (7.8% of the population) have received one
or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. In Florida, over 1.7 million individuals
(7.7%) have received at least one dose. Vaccine supply continues to be
the rate limiting step, prompting President Biden to order a 16% increase
in shipments to the states.
As a result, Florida received 307,000 doses of vaccine last week instead
of the prior 266,000 weekly doses. A portion of the increased supply this
week has been allocated towards medically vulnerable individuals between
the ages of 16 and 64 years old and JMC is very pleased to be one of the
hospitals which will participate in serving this population. This population
was mentioned in Governor Desantis’ executive order regarding priority
populations and was included in the 1C group of the initial CDC Advisory
Committee for Immunization Practices Guidelines for vaccine allocation.
Certain medical conditions which include COPD, chronic kidney disease,
diabetes, and heart failure are associated with more severe COVID-19 illness.
We are partnering with medical staff primary care physicians in the community
to identify individuals to vaccinate in this high-risk population.
The over age 65 population continues to be a priority and mass vaccination
site(s) with the capacity to administer thousands of doses daily are being
planned in Palm Beach County. Publix pharmacies continue to serve as a
vaccine source for this population. As many of you are aware, Jupiter
Medical Center has a Publix pharmacy partnership on our campus. After
discussions with Publix leadership, we are pleased to announce that the
Publix pharmacy on JMC campus has been added as a vaccination site for
those over age 65. Appointments for this site can only be made via the
Publix website.
While vaccine demand still far outpaces supply, we are encouraged by the
increase in shipments to the states. Furthermore, pending FDA approval,
the J&J vaccine will provide an additional boost to supply by March/April.
Rest assured that the JMC team will continue to advocate to serve as a
vaccine resource for our community to provide as many doses as possible,
as quickly as possible.
Thank you for your patience as we continue our fight against the pandemic
and thank you for your continued support of Jupiter Medical Center.
Sincerely,
Amit Rastogi, MD, MHCM
Update 02/02/21
Jupiter Medical Center has received a very limited supply of the Moderna
vaccine from the State. This allotment is focused on patients who are
age 18-64 and have
co-morbidities which increase the severity of illness from Covid-19. The CDC has identified
comorbidities which are known to increase the chance of severe illness
and include:
- Cancer (active, not history of)
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD
- Heart conditions (CHF, cardiomyopathies, CAD)
- Solid organ transplantation
-
Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2)
- Sickle cell disease
- Down’s Syndrome
- Diabetes
We are partnering with medical staff primary care physicians in the community
to identify individuals to vaccinate in the high-risk population. Patients
who meet criteria will be submitted through their PCP and then scheduled
to have the vaccine administered.
We will not be booking appointments through our website. We had hoped to receive more doses of vaccine that would allow us to vaccinate
more of these patients at increased risk, but our supply is very limited.
To keep phone lines open for medical emergencies, please continue to check
this page for future updates. Your continued support of Jupiter Medical
Center is greatly appreciated.
Updated 01/29/21
While numerous countries across the globe continue to grapple with the
spread of COVID-19, new cases and related hospitalizations in the US are
finally decreasing. Due to the lingering effects of post-holiday travel
and the discovery of new variants, we must approach this news with cautious optimism.
Statewide Metrics
- There were 76,697 new cases during the week ending 1/17 (decreasing).
- There were 6910 patients hospitalized on 1/25 (decreasing).
- The percent positive rate averaged 10.05% for the week ending 1/17 (decreasing).
- The retransmission rate (Rt) is 0.96 on 1/25 (stable).
Palm Beach County Metrics
- There were 592 new cases on 1/24 and 4,783 new cases for the week ending
1/17 (decreasing).
- The positivity rate was 9.27% for the week ending 1/17 (stable).
- There was a decrease in COVID-like illness cases to 632 for the week ending
1/10 (decreasing).
Jupiter Medical Center
- There are 33 patients currently hospitalized at JMC with COVID-19.
- 6 patients are in the ICU (2 requiring ventilators and 1 requiring BIPAP support).
- We tested over 600 patients per week in our urgent care centers for COVID.
Covid-19 variants and vaccines
Multiple variants of the COVID-19 virus have been identified. Current investigations
are underway to define the transmissibility, severity of illness, and
the susceptibility to current vaccines of these variants. Recent data
has demonstrated that the UK variant is 30-70% more transmissible than
the original and suggests that it is more lethal.
President Biden has issued several executive actions aimed at improving
the national pandemic response. In an effort to stem the tide of new COVID-19
variants entering the US, a ban is being reinstated on many non-US citizens
attempting travel to the US. Additionally, the CDC has announced that
it will require all travelers flying to the US from abroad to show proof
of a negative coronavirus test before getting on a plane.
Vaccine development, delivery and administration are central to any COVID-19
mitigation strategy and numerous pharmaceutical companies have been pursuing
vaccine development. The maker of the single dose vaccine, J&J, is
expected to report critical data in approximately 2 weeks, which will
set the stage for the FDA issuing an EUA (Emergency Use Authorization)
in late February or early March for the vaccine. Although the Astra Zeneca
vaccine has been approved for use in Europe, a significant issue with
the trial used for approval in Europe has caused the company not to submit
for a United States EUA and the FDA will perform an independent analysis.
Merck reported disappointing results with both of their candidate vaccines
and has subsequently stopped clinical trials.
One of the major issues related to vaccines has been supply. Both Moderna
and Pfizer committed to deliver 100 million doses each by the end of March.
So far, they have delivered 36 million doses and are currently delivering
12-18 million doses per week. In order to boost supply, President Biden
said his administration will soon be able to confirm the purchase of an
additional 100 million doses each of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines,
with the shipments to be delivered by this summer. The new order represents
a 50% increase in the country’s total vaccine supply from 400 million
ordered doses to 600 million.
Until the aforementioned steps take effect, it is unlikely that Florida’s
vaccine shipments from the federal government will surpass the current
rate of approximately 250,000 doses per week. In an effort to rapidly
increase vaccination sites, state authorities are directing vaccine supply
towards Publix pharmacy sites, now expanded to over 100 pharmacies in
12 Florida counties. As a result, it is doubtful that hospitals and perhaps
even county departments of health will receive additional vaccine going forward.
For those of you that received your first vaccine dose (either Moderna
or Pfizer) at Jupiter Medical Center, I am pleased to announce that we
have received second dose shipments for both.
As COVID-19 cases begin to ebb and vaccine administration accelerates,
we appear to be gaining momentum in the battle against the pandemic. Let’s
all continue to do our part by practicing social distancing and wearing masks.
Thank you for your continued support of Jupiter Medical Center.
Updated: 01/22/21
Nationally, the number of new COVID-19 cases has now declined from the
most recent peak. There continue to be significant hotspots in COVID-19
activity across the U.S. following the holidays. California and Arizona
have seen significant surges in the number of new cases. In Arizona, the
daily death rate has increased from 90 to 160 deaths over the past 2 weeks.
Review of recent data in Florida suggests that we may be starting to see
some moderation after the most recent surge. The Rt currently stands at
0.93, below the important threshold of 1.0. Number of new cases and percent
positivity rates are both decreasing. There has also been a trend of decreasing
COVID-like illness presenting to emergency rooms over the past week.
The impact of the variant COVID-19 viruses, which appear to be more transmissible,
remains uncertain. The United Kingdom has seen a significant acceleration
in new case rates which is attributed to the variants. It is predicted
that the U.K. variant may become the dominant virus in the U.S. by March.
Efforts to vaccinate key populations have been accelerating. Over 12 million
people have received initial vaccine doses nationally, which is about
3.6% of the population. In Florida, almost one million individuals (4.5%)
have received their first shot.
Statewide Metrics
-
There were 92,485 new cases during the week ending January 10th (decreasing).
-
There were 7420 patients hospitalized on January 18th (decreasing).
-
The percent positive rate averaged 10.73 for the week ending January 10th (decreasing).
-
The retransmission rate (Rt) is 0.93 on January 19th (decreasing).
Palm Beach County Metrics
-
There were 505 new cases on January 17th and 5,684 new cases for the week ending January 10th (decreasing).
-
The positivity rate was 9.18% for the week ending January 10th (decreasing).
-
There was a decrease in COVID-like illness cases to 643 for the week ending
January 10th (decreasing).
Jupiter Medical Center
- There are 31 patients currently hospitalized at JMC with COVID-19
- 5 patients are in the ICU (3 of these patients requiring ventilator support
and 2 requiring BIPAP support).
- We are testing approximately 600 people per week for COVID-19 in the urgent
care centers, down from 1000 per week.
Vaccine Update
Since December 23rd, Jupiter Medical Center has received approximately 2,000 doses of vaccine.
Of these, roughly 1,200 doses were administered to healthcare workers
with direct patient contact, comprised of JMC clinical team members and
community physicians. The remaining approximately 800 doses, focusing
on community members over age 65, were booked within 34 minutes of being
posted on our website. 800 doses is barely enough to serve the needs of
even one community in the towns surrounding JMC, let alone the over 90,000
residents over the age of 65 in our Primary Service Area (defined as the
area where 75% of JMC patients reside). The limited number of doses received
has simply been woefully inadequate to meet the tremendous need that exists.
As mentioned in my memo last week, recent policy changes provided hope
that vaccine supply constraints would abate in February as second doses
of the vaccines, which had been previously placed in reserve, would now
be released immediately. Unfortunately, breaking news later in the week
revealed that no stockpile exists, meaning that vaccine allocations to
states for the upcoming weeks will remain flat.
State authorities are now shifting to a delivery model which will emphasize
retail store chains as the primary sites for community members to receive
vaccinations. Governor DeSantis yesterday announced plans to increase
access sites for vaccine administration by focusing on Publix pharmacies.
We are continuously reaching out to County and State officials to request
additional supply for JMC so that we can administer vaccine to our local
community. We have submitted applications to AHCA (Agency for Healthcare
Administration) to serve as a Community Vaccination site with the ability
to administer thousands of vaccines weekly on the JMC campus and our Urgent
Care Centers.
We have completely exhausted our vaccine supply and as the focus shifts
away from hospitals to Publix pharmacies as vaccination sites, we do not
know when or if we will receive additional shipments of vaccine. As a
result, we encourage people to pursue all available avenues for receiving
their vaccinations. We will continue to provide updates on our website
and additional communications as we receive information from our state
and county partners.
If you received your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at JMC, we have
been assured by state authorities that we will receive an additional shipment
to administer your second dose.
While early signs indicate that the most recent surge in COVID-19 cases
may be receding and vaccine access sites appear to be increasing, please
continue safe practices such as wearing masks and social distancing. Hopefully,
the combination of the aforementioned will help slow the momentum of COVID-19 cases.
Thank you for your continued support during these challenging times.
Updated: 01/19/21
We have completely exhausted our vaccine supply. In an effort to increase
vaccine access sites, State authorities announced today that vaccine administration
will shift away from hospitals towards local Publix Pharmacies. As a result,
we are uncertain when or if we will receive additional vaccine shipments.
To keep phone lines open for medical emergencies, please continue to check
this web page for updates.
Your continued support of Jupiter Medical Center is greatly appreciated.
Updated 01/15/21
We have currently exhausted our supply of COVID-19 vaccine. We are in communication
with state and local authorities to receive additional allotments. We
do not know the exact timing or quantity of our next shipment. To keep
phone lines open for medical emergencies, please continue to check this
page for updates.
Your continued support of Jupiter Medical Center is greatly appreciated.
Updated 01/13/21
The salient updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic are based upon the
continued national surge in cases as well as a slower than expected rollout
of initial vaccination administrations. New cases in the U.S. continue
to rise, with over 300,000 new cases reported on January 8th. Additionally, hospitalizations continue to rise with over 129,000 patients
reported in the U.S. This represents more people hospitalized now than
at the peak of the spring and summer surges combined. December was the
deadliest month nationally in long-term care facilities since the beginning
of the pandemic. This surge has also been seen in Florida, with continued
increases in the number of new cases as well as in the number of hospitalizations.
The number of new cases per day has increased by 8% over the past 7 days.
The pace of vaccinations has significantly underperformed expectations.
Only 9 million people have received the initial dose of 25 million vaccine
doses nationally and only 600,000 individuals have received the initial
dose in Florida. The biggest issue appears to be related to the supply
of vaccine. In addition, getting the doses administered in a timely fashion
once the vaccine has been delivered to the destination has been challenging
for many hospitals, although that has not been the case for JMC.
Statewide Metrics
-
There were 109,536 new cases during the week ending January 3rd.
-
There were 7,713 patients hospitalized on January 12th.
-
The percent positive rate averaged 12.65 for the week ending January 3rd.
-
The retransmission rate (Rt) was 1.05 on January 12th.
Palm Beach County Metrics
-
There were 753 new cases on January 12th and 6,113 new cases for the week ending January 3rd.
-
The positivity rate was 10.85% for the week ending January 3rd.
-
There was a decrease in COVID-like illness cases to 663 for the week ending January 3rd.
Jupiter Medical Center
- There are 29 patients currently hospitalized with Covid-19 at JMC.
- 7 patients are in the ICU, 2 requiring ventilators
- We continue to test over 1,000 patients per week in our urgent care centers
for COVID-19.
Vaccine Update
While significant vaccine supply challenges persist, we were glad to recently
receive 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine from the state. The JMC team implemented
plans to administer vaccine based on the parameters established in the
governor’s executive order. Our first allotment a few weeks ago
focused on healthcare workers (team members and medical staff). With many
of those needs met, our most recent shipment focused on community residents
over age 65. Unfortunately, due to the limited supply and unusually high
demand, vaccination appointments were booked in under an hour of posting
availability on the website. Approximately 75% of those appointments were
booked by community members over age 65, residing mostly in Jupiter and
Palm Beach Gardens with a few residing in Stuart and West Palm Beach.
The remaining 25% were booked by healthcare workers from the JMC clinical
team and community medical practices.
We share your frustration regarding the limited supply of the vaccine and
the unpredictable nature of the process. Fortunately, policy changes over
the past few days provide hope that vaccine supply constraints will abate
in the upcoming weeks. Starting in two weeks, vaccines will be distributed
weekly to states based on the number of residents over 65-years old and
by the pace of administration in each state. Furthermore, second doses
of the vaccines, which had been previously placed in reserve, will now
be released immediately. These changes should help us secure more vaccine
in the upcoming weeks. While this may cause concern for those who have
been fortunate to receive the first dose of the vaccine, we have been
assured by state officials that current vaccine production rates will
be sufficient to meet second dose requirements. Florida State Surgeon
General, Dr. Scott Rivkees, testified before the State Healthcare Committee
this morning that our state is scheduled to receive 250,000 vaccine doses
weekly, exclusive of the second dose supply. Dr. Rivkees also testified
that the CDC has committed to having the necessary doses for the second shot.
Further encouraging news came from Moderna’s Chief Medical Officer
earlier this week at JP Morgan’s 39th Annual Healthcare Conference. Moderna believes that its vaccine should
provide protection against COVID-19 for at least a year. This is an important
development since current vaccine administration projections delineate
a 9-12 month timeline for vaccine administration across the U.S. If a
booster dose were to be required within this timeframe, it would pose
further logistical challenges.
Based on the aforementioned information, we are optimistic that vaccine
supply will improve in February. We continue to advocate with state and
local officials for larger allocations of vaccine for JMC in upcoming
shipments and have applied as a Community Vaccination site. We realize
that this is a trying process as COVID-19 cases rise and vaccine distribution
seems haphazard at best.
Please know that the JMC team is working diligently to obtain as much vaccine
as possible, as quickly as possible, in order to meet the needs of our
community and healthcare workers.
Thank you for your support during these challenging times.
Update 01/12/21
We shared here yesterday that we received a limited supply of the Pfizer
COVID-19 vaccine for community members over age 65 and healthcare workers.
The demand was very high and available appointments filled quickly. We
anticipate that as vaccine supply becomes available, we will be able to
offer more appointment times to our community.
We are working closely with the state of Florida to receive additional
allotments of the vaccine. Please continue to monitor the website for
updates. In the interim, should you wish to pursue vaccination through
another avenue, we encourage you to do so to avoid any delays.
We look forward to serving you in the future.
Updated 01/05/21
A Message from the CEO, Amit Rastogi, MD, MHCM
The most significant developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic are
the expected surge related to the Christmas/New Year’s holidays,
the detection of the UK variant B117 in the United States and the rollout
of the Pfizer/ Moderna vaccines. CDC forecasts project a sustained high
level of 1.2 to 2 million new cases per week in the U.S. National models
continue to project an increasing number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19.
State level models demonstrate a continued high level of new cases in
Florida (75,000 new cases per week) over the next 4 weeks. Unfortunately,
we are experiencing the impact of this trend on our urgent care centers,
emergency department and our inpatient wards/ICU, as demonstrated by the
JMC metrics below.
The second important item is the detection of the UK variant in the US.
The B117 variant is believed to be 40-70% more transmissible than other
strains, meaning that more persons are likely to be infected when they
come in contact with an infected individual. Projections show that the
retransmission rate (Rt) may be increased by 0.4 to 0.7 by the new strain.
It is not yet known whether the new strain produces more severe disease.
Scientists are currently evaluating the susceptibility of the variant
strain to the current vaccines. At the present time, it is believed that
the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be effective against the new strain.
Statewide Metrics
-
There were 91,109 new cases during the week ending December 27th
-
There were 7,245 patients hospitalized on January 3rd
-
The percent positive rate averaged 12.4% for the week ending December 27th
- The retransmission rate (Rt) is 1.15
Palm Beach County Metrics
-
There were 796 new cases on January 4th and 5,088 new cases for the week ending December 27th.
-
The positivity rate was 9.85% for the week ending December 27th.
-
COVID-like illness cases have increased to 617 new cases per week (ending
December 27th).
Jupiter Medical Center Metrics
- There are 29 COVID positive patients admitted at JMC.
- 6 of these patients are in the ICU (two patients requiring mechanical ventilation,
one requiring BIPAP support).
- The number of patients being tested daily in the ED for COVID illness has
jumped to over 50 per day.
- We are testing over 1,000 patients per week in our urgent care centers
for COVID.
Vaccines
While the development of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in record time
has been a boon, distribution of the vaccines has proven to be a significant
logistical challenge around the globe and our nation.
In Florida, the state has received nearly 965,000 doses of vaccines for
Covid-19, of which 533,000 doses have been provided to hospitals and approximately
250,000 of those vaccines have been administered. The vast majority of
the doses arrived between 12/22/20 and 12/29/20, hampering rollout due
to the holiday break.
On December 23, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis signed an Executive Order prioritizing
vaccine administration to healthcare workers, long-term care facility
residents and those over age 65. Unfortunately, the current supply of
vaccine is not enough to meet the demand even for the priority categories,
and it will require months to successfully vaccinate these individuals.
Hospital staff and long-term care residents/staff in Florida constitute
at least 750,000 individuals and there are more than 4.5 million individuals
65 and older. Compounding this challenge is the fact that the current
vaccines require administration of a second dose to these recipients within
3-4 weeks of the first one.
The first week of Covid-19 vaccine deployment in Florida began with the
distribution of Pfizer vaccine to five pilot sites, for the purpose of
vaccinating healthcare workers and long-term care residents. Week two
marked shipment of the Moderna vaccine to hospitals across the state for
healthcare workers, along with vaccination of long-term care residents
by CVS/Walgreens. In week three, all 67 county health departments received
the vaccine to begin community vaccinations.
As we enter week four, Governor DeSantis has directed the Florida Division
of Emergency Management to work with the Florida Department of Health
to identify state-run COVID-19 testing sites that can be converted into
vaccine sites. He has also directed the Florida Division of Emergency
Management to identify places of worship and other locations in underserved
communities where the vaccine may be administered. Florida has already
begun a pilot program in Escambia County, where over
500 seniors have received their vaccine and have been scheduled for their
booster shot, which they will receive at the same location. The governor
has directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to hire 1,000
contract nurses to support vaccination efforts and these nurses will be
deployed throughout the entire state to help run vaccination sites. Governor
DeSantis is also directing the Florida Division of Emergency Management
to assume additional responsibilities regarding the administration of
vaccines in Florida’s over 3,000 assisted living facilities, supplementing
and accelerating the efforts being undertaken by CVS and Walgreens, pursuant
to their agreement with the federal government. At this time, vaccines
for those over 65 will be available from the county health department
and hospitals.
At Jupiter Medical Center, we are proud that we were able to start vaccinating
healthcare workers (team members and medical staff) within 2 hours of
receiving our first vaccine allocation on December 23rd. Additionally, we administered the vaccine on Christmas eve as well as
Saturday and Sunday of the holiday weekend to increase access for medical
staff providers unable to participate during the week due to patient care
responsibilities.
We have exhausted our first allocation of the vaccine focusing on healthcare
workers and have submitted a plan to the Agency for Healthcare Administration
(AHCA) requesting a significant increase in future allotments. This would
allow us to vaccinate thousands of community members weekly, prioritizing
those over 65 years of age, while continuing to vaccinate healthcare workers.
We have offered to conduct community vaccination clinics on JMC campus,
our Urgent Care Center locations and in the community, seven days a week.
While we don’t yet know the exact timing or quantity of our next
shipment of vaccine from the state, we anticipate receiving it as early
as next week. Much of the uncertainty stems from a national vaccine supply
chain process which is still under development. Currently, the states
receive a varying allotment of vaccine on a weekly basis from federal
authorities and subsequently allocate it to hospitals and county health
departments. In our discussions with state health agency officials, they
have assured us that significant efforts are underway to streamline this
process and improve predictability of vaccine allotment in the upcoming
weeks and months.
JMC leadership continues to advocate with state and local leadership/legislators
for increased vaccine allocation for our community. As mentioned above,
we have a plan in place to administer community vaccinations, which we
are ready to operationalize as soon as we receive notice of our next vaccine
allocation. Once we receive notification, we will send out detailed communication
regarding the appointment scheduling process, locations, etc.
While we are all glad to put 2020 behind us, we face significant challenges
for the first few months of 2021. COVID-19 cases are on the rise and are
projected to increase over the next 4-6 weeks as a result of holiday travel.
Although vaccines will provide much needed protection against future spread
of the virus, the current demand far outpaces supply.
Please know that through these trying times, the entire JMC team is here
to serve. Whether it is to diagnose those presenting with COVID-19 symptoms
at our urgent care centers/emergency department, or to provide the latest
treatments for those requiring admission to the hospital, we are here.
While the vaccine rollout presents significant challenges, we are advocating
vigorously to obtain as many doses as possible for community vaccinations
and re-purposing personnel throughout the organization to operationalize
vaccine clinics as soon as we receive more vaccine.
We will get through these trying times together.
Best wishes for a safe and healthy new year.
Updated 12/29/20
A Message from the CEO, Amit Rastogi, MD, MHCM
JMC received its first shipment of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine from the
Florida Department of Health on Wednesday, 12/23/20. I am proud to say
that we began administering it to our healthcare workers (team members/medical
staff) within 90 minutes of arrival.
In just 6 days, we have vaccinated over 625 members of our staff, physicians
and nurses, prioritizing those who face high risk exposures or high frequency
of events. While we continue to vaccinate our healthcare workers, we are
working closely with the Florida Department of Health and anticipate vaccinating
community members, 65 and older, in the upcoming weeks based on CDC recommendations
and the Governor’s Executive Order. To keep you informed, we will
continue to post updates on Tuesday and Friday.
Please remember, your best protection from #COVID19 will be a combination
of getting a COVID-19 #vaccine, wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet
away from others, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands often.
Statewide Metrics
-
There were 68,614 new cases during the week ending December 20th
-
There were 6,400 patients hospitalized on December 28th
-
The percent positive rate averaged 9.03% for the week ending December 20th
-
The retransmission rate (Rt) is 1.05
Palm Beach County Metrics
-
There were 626 new cases on December 28th and 3,529 new cases for the week
ending December 20th
-
The positivity rate was 7.15% for the week ending December 20th
-
COVID-like illness cases have remained stable at 472 new cases per week
(ending December 20th)
Jupiter Medical Center Metrics
-
There are 21 COVID positive patients admitted at JMC
-
5 of these patients are in the ICU (one patient requires BIPAP respiratory support)
-
There has been a 4% increase in the number of patients seen in the Urgent
Care Centers for COVID testing.
Updated 12/23/20
A Message from the CEO Amit Rastogi, MD, MHCM
The surge in new Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations has continued over
the past several weeks, partly a sequela of the Thanksgiving holiday.
On December 18th, there were over 400,000 new cases in the U.S. There are over 100,000
patients hospitalized in the U.S. and 21,000 requiring ICU level care.
Current models project a continued increase in cases over the next 4 weeks
and predict 1.2 to 2.3 million new cases will be reported in the week
ending January 9th. On a positive note for our state, the consensus projection for models
of Florida and Palm Beach County demonstrate a plateau in number of new
cases over the next 4 weeks. The state is projected to add 75,000 new
cases weekly over the next 4 weeks.
A concerning new development is the emergence of a more transmissible strain
of COVID in the United Kingdom. The new variant was first detected in
September and already accounts for two-thirds of cases in London. The
new strain also exhibits mutations involving the spike protein, which
is worrisome because current vaccines target the spike protein. Scientists
are studying whether the current vaccines will be effective against the
new variant and they believe that will be the case. Due to these concerns,
there has been a rapid move to limit travel from the UK to slow the spread
of the new variant.
Statewide Metrics
-
There were 74,545 new cases during the week ending December 13th
-
There were 5,241 patients hospitalized on December 21st
-
The percent positive rate averaged 9.38% for the week ending December 13th
- The retransmission rate (Rt) is 1.08
Palm Beach County Metrics
-
There were 459 new cases on December 20th and 3,791 new cases for the week ending December 13th
-
The positivity rate was 7.59% for the week ending December 13th
-
COVID-like illness cases have decreased to 470 new cases per week (ending
December 13th)
Jupiter Medical Center Metrics
- There are 20 COVID positive patients admitted at JMC
- 2 of these patients are in the ICU (both patients require BIPAP respiratory support)
- We are testing approximately 25 patients per day in the ED for COVID-19
- There has been a 30% increase in the number of patients seen in the Urgent
Care Centers for COVID testing.
Vaccines
We are proud to report that JMC received its first shipment of the Moderna
Covid-19 vaccine today from the state and we have initiated administration
of the vaccine for healthcare workers, a very significant advance in our
battle against the pandemic. An FDA advisory panel recommended on Thursday,
December 17th that the Moderna vaccine receive an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA),
which was issued this past Friday.
The Moderna vaccine is based on a messenger RNA platform. The messenger
RNA enters the cell and encodes the spike protein of the virus, which
in turn causes the body to develop antibodies against this antigen. The
vaccine demonstrated 94.1% efficacy in preventing COVID infection in a
Phase III trial which included 30,000 participants. Vaccination requires
2 doses, 4 weeks apart. Additionally, there were no severe cases of COVID
disease in the few patients who did contract COVID illness after vaccination.
The side effect profile is excellent. There were no patients who had an
anaphylactic or severe hypersensitivity reaction. The most common adverse
reaction was injection site pain (90%). A flu-like syndrome with: fatigue
(60%), muscle pain (60%), joint pain (40%), and chills (40%) which lasted
for 1 to 2 days was also fairly common. This syndrome was more frequently
seen after the 2nd dose and in younger patients (<55 years old). Serious adverse events
occurred in less than 1% of patients in the vaccine group and in the control
group, with no evidence that these were related to the vaccine.
On December 20, 2020 the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP) released its recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccine
administration. Their goal is to balance the prevention of morbidity/mortality
from COVID with the preservation of societal functioning:

Frontline Essential Workers are defined as workers who are in sectors essential
to the functioning of society and are at substantially higher risk of
exposure to COVID (i.e. firefighters, police, teachers, etc.) while Other
Essential Workers include those in transportation, food services, housing, etc.
While CDC data reveals that COVID-19 incidence is highest in young adults
(ages 18-29), mortality rates are highest in older adults (those over
85 years followed by ages 75-84).
From a population perspective, group 1a represents approximately 24 million
people, group 1b about 49 million unique persons and group 1c represents
129 million unique persons. Barring unforeseen circumstances, CDC models
predict requiring roughly 8 weeks to vaccinate group 1a, 12 weeks for
group 1b and 24 weeks for group 1c.
In Florida, the Department of Health is partnering with pharmacies (CVS,
Walgreens, etc.) to administer COVID vaccinations for long term care facilities.
Therefore, JMC’s initial vaccination plan focuses on healthcare
workers. Based on CDC guidelines, our leadership team has developed a
plan for vaccinating JMC team members and our medical staff, prioritizing
vaccinations for those who face high risk exposures or high frequency
of events. This includes individuals working in our COVID Unit, the Emergency
Department, Intensive Care Unit, etc.
In line with national models, we anticipate that it will take several weeks
to provide the initial dose of the vaccine to our team members and medical
staff. We will be working with state authorities to coordinate JMC participation
in the vaccination of our community members, which we anticipate will
begin in the spring based on CDC projections. This plan continues to evolve
and the timeframe depends on our allocation of vaccine, when they are
received, as well as evolving CDC and ACIP recommendations.
We remain committed to being a leader in the fight against the pandemic
and coordinating with state and local authorities to rapidly vaccinate
our team members, providers, and members of our community. In an effort
to keep you apprised of this rapidly evolving situation, which affects
all of us and our families, we will update our website every Tuesday and
Friday and post details as they become available via the following link:
https://www.jupitermed.com/covid19-vaccine/.
The arrival of the Covid-19 vaccine certainly brings much needed hope that
we will all soon be on the path to “normalcy’ in our lives
for which we have been yearning.
Best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season for you and your families.