Physicians discuss the process of contacting patients who qualify for vaccines and express optimism about latest numbers

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 4, 2021 – The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals across AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division dropped this week, the latest indication that the winter surge is slowing.

“We continue to see a daily decrease in both our hospitalized patients and our ICU Patients, said Dr. Neil Finkler, chief medical officer for acute care services for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division at today’s AdventHealth Morning Briefing.

But, he added, “let’s not stop the things that got us here,” such as wearing masks, practicing social distancing and washing hands frequently.

Finkler appeared with Dr. Mark Socinski, executive medical director of the AdventHealth Cancer Institute, to discuss the hospital system’s latest efforts to vaccinate extremely vulnerable patients and plans to help administer more than 3,000 vaccines this weekend in partnership with Orange County to community health care workers.

The vaccines for health workers were provided by the Florida Department of Health in Orange County and were made available to any eligible health care worker, regardless of health system affiliation. All appointments are filled.

“We’re really looking forward to helping get the vaccines out,” Finkler said. “Health care workers are really on the front line. It’s critically important we protect health workers.”

Socinski discussed the importance of vaccinating vulnerable patients such as those who have undergone transplants or are being treated for cancer. AdventHealth plans to offer more vaccines when supply becomes available.

Cancer and other conditions can compromise patients’ immune systems and put them at higher risk for complications from COVID-19. As a result, Socinski said many of his patients are requesting the vaccine and he recommends they take it when it’s available to them.

“This is a safe and highly effective vaccine,” Socinski said. “I tell them they should be more concerned about the side effects of COVID than the side effects of the vaccine.”

You can sign up for alerts to learn when more appointments are available at www.CoronavirusVaccineAlerts.com. Vaccines are not currently available at any AdventHealth hospital, AdventHealth Centra Care or AdventHealth Medical Group office.