South Florida doctors participated in a walkout against an increase in unvaccinated patients. WPTV
Monday's walkout saw 75 South Florida doctors take part.
Doctors wanted to raise awareness about a spike in COVID-19-unvaccinated patients.
Florida saw nearly 150,000 coronavirus infections in the last week.
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According to local reports, dozens of South Florida doctors protested the increase in COVID-19-unvaccinated patients by staging a symbolic walkout at a Palm Beach Gardens hospital.
WPTV reported that 75 doctors from various hospitals and offices participated in the walkout. MSNBC reported that some even took breaks from their work to take part in the walkout.
According to data released Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida has the highest COVID-19 epidemic in the country, with nearly 150,000 cases reported in the last week.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the state's hospitals are currently at 84.6% capacity. According to the Mayo Clinic, 51.6% of the state's population is fully vaccinated against coronavirus.
WPTV reported that Monday's walkout saw doctors say the vast majority of cases they see are among unvaccinated patients. Many of them have expressed regret at not being vaccinated.
They staged the walkout in an effort to raise awareness about the crisis and encourage more people to get vaccines.
"We are exhausted. We are exhausted. Our patience is running out. WFLA needs your help.
WFLA was informed by Dr. Leslie Diaz (an infectious-disease specialist) that "the vaccine still remains as the most effective, reliable way to stop this madness."
This protest occurred on the same day that the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine was fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are still available in the US under FDA emergency-use authorization. They have all been proven to be very effective in preventing severe infections, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19.
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