COVID-19 in Lake, Sumter counties: Vaccination numbers increase as youngest Americans receive shots

LEESBURG — The number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered increased over the past two weeks before the Florida Department of Health closed down COVID-19 vaccine and testing sites in Lake County on June 30.

This increase came after the FDA approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 6 months through 4.

According to the most recent data, Lake County has seen a recent decrease in new COVID-19 infections and Sumter County has seen an increase.

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The COVID-19 landscape in Lake, Sumter counties

Between June 24 and June 30 in Lake County, a total of 1,045 people tested positive for coronavirus, according to the FDOH.

This is a decrease from two weeks ago, when 1,052 new people tested positive. Between June 10 and June 16, Lake County's positivity rate was 18.3%. Between June 24 and June 30, 20.4% of people who tested for the virus were positive.

Sumter County saw an increase in COVID cases. Between June 24 and June 30, 321 positive cases were recorded. Between May 27 and June 2, 278 people tested positive for the coronavirus.

Sumter's positivity rate also increased from 16.4% to 17.7% during that time.

COVID-19 vaccines, testing

The number of COVID vaccinations administered for both Lake and Sumter counties increased in the past two weeks after the FDA approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 6 months through 4.

According to the FDOH, in Lake County, 66% of people aged 6 months and older are vaccinated. Between June 24 and June 30, 169 more people got vaccinated.

In Sumter County, 65% of people aged 6 months and older are vaccinated. Within the last week, 27 more people got vaccinated.

This increase in vaccinations came right before the FDA in Lake County ended COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in Lake County on June 30.

Any resident in need of COVID-19 vaccines or testing after June 30 is encouraged to contact their primary doctor's office, local pharmacy, urgent care, or community health centers in their area. Those without a primary doctor can contact the DOH office at 352-771-5500 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment.

To find additional COVID-19 vaccine locations near you, visit vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 or visit floridahealthcovid19.gov/vaccines/vaccinelocator.

To find a testing site near you, visit Floridahealthcovid19.gov/testing-sites. For the latest local information, visit the DOH website at lake.floridahealth.gov or follow them on Twitter at @FLHealthLake.

For general information on COVID-19 in Florida, visit www.floridahealth.gov/covid-19, email covid-19@flhealth.gov, or call 866-779-6121.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: More people receive COVID vaccinations in Lake, Sumter counties