The CEO of UF Health Jacksonville warns that you can carry a virus even after vaccination

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In Duval County, more women are getting COVID-19 than men, which is against the national trend. That was a finding announced Thursday by the head of UF Health Jacksonville.

One more important note, CEO of UF Health Jacksonville, Dr. Leon Haley, said that even if you’ve gotten both doses of the vaccine, you can still carry the virus in your nose – which is why it’s critical that you still wear a mask.

For 10 months, UF Health has been sharing with city council and other elected officials what the Jacksonville pandemic is doing.

On Thursday, hospital officials announced that the majority of Jacksonville patients – 54% – are female.

Data from the hospital shows that 23,000 COVID-19 patients are black

34,000 are white and 9,000 are a different race.

Those who got sick range from babies to a 106-year-old who actually survived the disease.

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

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Most of the concern on Thursday surrounded vaccines with Haley pointing out that even with two doses protecting them from developing symptoms, people could still be infectious carriers of the virus.

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

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

“They only last a very short time. So you’re looking at less than a day. And I think the one thing people need to remember is that some of that is actually okay because having side effects means your body is reacting. It’s trying to induce an immune response, so it’s actually okay if you have that, ”explained Haley.

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He wanted to assure people that the vaccines are safe.

But even in his own hospital, employees are reluctant to get vaccinated. Only 52% of the hospital staff have received injections, and Haley said this was a choice, it wasn’t a supply problem.

“We are still working with some of our team members,” said Haley. “It’s a lot of our nurses who are concerned, in part because unfortunately there is misinformation about the vaccine and the pregnancy, and we have a lot of young fertile nurses who are very concerned, and we clearly have some people who are worry about vaccines in general. “

Haley also recommended double masking for travelers, especially those who haven’t been vaccinated yet.

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