COVID-19 Pandemic

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated FDOH-Escambia’s continued commitment to public health. FDOH-Escambia staff have had and continue to have an important role in keeping the public safe and healthy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Below is a snapshot of how the pandemic progressed and FDOH- Escambia’s response to COVID-19 in our community.

February

FDOH-Escambia employees participate in the COVID vaccine POD at Brownsville on February 24, 2021.

The FDA grants emergency use authorization to Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, the first single dose COVID-19 vaccine available in the US.

FDA approves emergency use authorization for Johnson and Johnson one shot COVID-19 vaccine

April

CDC recommends pausing the use of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine because of blood clot complications.

CDC recommends continued use of Johnson and Johnson vaccine for people 18 and older.

May

The CDC changes its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines to make clear that shots made by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech are preferred over Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine.

The CDC shortens the recommended times that people should isolate when they’ve tested positive for COVID-19 from 10 days to 5 days if they don’t have symptoms – and if they wear a mask around others for at least 5 more days. The CDC also shortens the recommended time for people to quarantine if they are exposed to the virus to a similar 5 days if they are vaccinated.

June

The Delta variant, first identified in India in late 2020, becomes the dominant variant in the U.S. The variant kicks off a third wave of infections during the summer of 2021.

August

The FDA authorizes an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for certain immunocompromised people.

The US FDA grants full approval to the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people age 16 and older

ACIP recommends Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine for people ages 16 years and older.

FDOH Employees test for COVID-19 at the Downtown Service Center on August 12, 2021

October

CDC endorses ACIP recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots for people who are 65 years and older, and people 18 years and older who live in long-term care settings, have underlying medical conditions, and who live or work in high risk settings.

December

CDC endorses ACIP recommendation that children ages 5 to 11 years be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine.

The FDA authorizes boosters of the Pfizer/ BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for all adults. The same day, the CDC also endorses boosters for all adults.

World Health Organization classifies a new variant, Omicron, as a variant of concern after it was first reported by scientists in South Africa. The variant has several mutations in the spike protein that concern scientists around the world.

CDC recommends that everyone over 18 years old who received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine receive a COVID-19 booster shot 6 months after they are fully vaccinated.

FDOH Escambia Partners with Pensacola Blue Wahoos to Offer In- Game COVID-19 Vaccines

FDOH-Escambia, in partnership with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, first offered free COVID-19 vaccines to fans at a Blue Wahoos game on Tuesday, May 11. Single-shot COVID-19 vaccines were available to eligible fans ages 18 and up. No appointments were necessary for fans attending the games. The team administered a total of 16 vaccines on the first day. Additional dates were set through the months of May and June.

“This collaboration with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos was not only a great opportunity to increase vaccinations in our community but also a model of the vital role that partnerships play in our public health system,” notes Marie Mott, Health Officer and Administrator for FDOH-Escambia. “The COVID-19 vaccine is an important tool to stop the spread of COVID-19, and I encourage all eligible persons to get vaccinated.”

The Blue Wahoos were “so excited for the opportunity to work together with the Florida Department of Health to offer vaccines to our fans,” Team President Jonathan Griffith said. “Helping get Pensacola vaccinated meets our mission as an organization to improve the quality of life in our community. I’m so excited about this chance that I’ve committed to get vaccinated myself on the dugout during the seventh inning stretch while singing “Take Me Out to The Ballpark!”

Pictured Above: FDOH-Escambia staff with community partners at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos stadium providing COVID-19 vaccines on May 11, 2021.

Dr. Vanessa Phillips with Kazoo!