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UF Health to administer second doses of COVID-19 vaccines

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The second dose of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine will be given out at UF Health Tuesday.

Chad Nielsen, the UF Health’s Infection Prevention Director, told Jacksonville’s Morning News that the vaccine roll-out for the second dose will happen over the next two weeks. In the next ten days, 4,000 employees at UF Health have been vaccinated.

“And so this first round of the second dose that we’re going to be administering today was lined up for about 100 people. And then in the following days, several hundred so 700 tomorrow and then on Wednesday, another five to six hundred,” Nielsen said.

The second dose is essential for full immunization of people. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine efficacy rate is 95 percent, only after the second dose. Nielsen said that it’s important that these second doses to go out.

“So there’s been a lot of talk about cutting doses and doing half doses, but that’s not something that’s FDA approved nor recommended by the manufacturer. So it’s very important we get these second doses on board to really realize the full potential of the vaccine,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen said that the main symptoms that have been reported so far has been headaches, fatigue, and arm soreness.

According to the Florida Department of Health, 13,762 people in Duval County have received the first dose as of Sunday.

Hannah Lee

Hannah Lee

Hannah Lee is a General Assignment Reporter for 104.5 WOKV.