TAMPA – Tampa General will be one of the first hospitals in Florida to receive the coronavirus vaccine, a spokesman confirmed Thursday.
The hospital did not immediately release any additional information, but news reports suggest it will be one of five hospitals across the state to receive shipments next month. According to South Florida Sun Sentinel, the other four are: Adventhealth Orlando, UF Health Jacksonville, Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood and Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The first shipment is expected to arrive in mid-December, followed by the second in January, the newspaper said. And vaccines will be stored until approved for use.
The news was reported in Florida and most of the Tampa Bay area of the country. It also comes as Tampa General marks another milestone in COVID-19 treatment, with doctors giving the state’s first monoclonal antibody treatment to a coronavirus patient this week.
A single dose, motivation-based treatment is provided on an outpatient basis and Covid-19 provides protection to patients with mild or moderate symptoms to prevent their condition from worsening. It marks a “dramatic shift” in coronavirus care, the hospital said.
Senior Vice President of Oncology and Network Development at Tampa General, Dr. “The Tampa General’s commitment to treating the community during this global epidemic is what gave us this first entry into class treatment,” Abe Schwarzberg said. News release.
“Because of these monoclonal antibodies, our medical teams provide quick, effective treatment for patients who become seriously ill or may die of complications from CO covid-1.”
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to tampabay.com for updates.
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