cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

While COVID-19 vaccine availability for all who wish to receive it is on the horizon, residents must continue to be vigilant when it comes to spreading the virus to protect the most vulnerable population, health officials said.

In a media call last week, Lee Health President and CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci detailed the slight increase of cases locally and asked Southwest Floridians to be patient.

In February, Lee Health had 115 COVID-19 patients in its care and, at one point last week, that number was down to 64. On March 18, the number of patients in their care stood at 88.

“This serves as a stark reminder that, despite the progress we are making toward defeating the coronavirus, we are still very much in the thick of the pandemic,” Antonucci said. “As our numbers creep up, it is important to continue to wear your mask, wash your hands and practice physical distancing when you leave the house. If you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, or you’re visiting our region for Spring Break, I again ask you to please do so safely.”

Antonucci praised the Lee County Department of Health and local retailers such as Publix, CVS and Walgreens which have provided their locations for vaccine administration. He also is encouraged by the amount of Lee County residents who want to be inoculated.

“Our community is understandably anxious, and I am glad the demand for the vaccine is overwhelming. We would not be able to safely reach herd immunity without widespread adoption, and it is encouraging that the vast majority of our community wishes to be vaccinated,” he said. “If you have any reservations about getting vaccinated, I assure you the science has proven these vaccines are safe and effective, and I encourage you to receive one as soon as you are able. With that said, I am also appreciative of the patience of our community as doses of the vaccine remain in limited supply. We are receiving weekly shipments of vaccine, and we are doing everything we can to get Southwest Florida vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

Antonucci stated he has a “renewed hope” that the federal government will have enough vaccine available for the entire United States by May.

“There are currently three vaccines that have emergency use authorization from the FDA. I am hopeful that everyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one by the summer, but for today we must continue to follow the State of Florida’s guidelines and make sure we get the most vulnerable citizens vaccinated with our current limited supply,” he said.

“The faster we reach widespread vaccination, the faster we can reach herd immunity, which will enable us to go back to a more traditional way of life. Please, in the meantime, remain vigilant and continue to follow CDC best practices.”