Florida’s surgeon general is up for second term. Here’s how COVID-19 fared under him

As the coronavirus pandemic begins its fourth year, albeit less severe than its first three years, Florida has been at the forefront of the national conversation about masks, vaccines and quarantines.

How the state has fared under the virus that’s killed millions worldwide — and more than 87,000 people in Florida — is largely due to the rules and recommendations that Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo and the Florida Department of Health, under Ladapo’s purview, have instituted. While DeSantis appointed Ladapo in September 2021 — 19 months into the pandemic, and he wasn’t confirmed until February 2022 — he has been a key figure in the state’s COVID policies for more than a year.

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, Florida has recorded 7,542,869 COVID-19 cases and 87,141 deaths, the 12th highest in cases and deaths per 100,000 people among the 50 states and Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. In terms of vaccine rates, Florida ranks 45th out of 50 states, plus Washington and Puerto Rico, among those who’ve completed a two-shot or single-dose COVID-19 vaccine and had one booster.

As Ladapo’s first term as surgeon general concludes — the Florida Senate is expected to confirm him for a second term by Friday, the day the Florida Legislative Session is scheduled to wrap up, here’s a look at how the state compares to the rest of the country regarding COVID-19 cases, deaths and vaccines.

Florida has not reported COVID-19 case or death data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since April 6 due to ongoing technical improvements in Florida’s surveillance system, according to a footnote on the CDC’s website.

All data used for comparisons was last logged on March 22.

But, medical experts caution, the rate of COVID-19 infections and deaths is affected by myriad of factors. State government policies, a community’s willingness to vaccinate, population density, economics, income levels, language barriers and other circumstances can all play a part in the number of COVID cases, hospitalizations, vaccine rates and deaths.

Here’s a look at how Florida has fared in COVID-19 cases, deaths and vaccines:

COVID-19 cases

Since the pandemic began in March 2020 through March 22, 2023, Florida had the 12th-highest case rate per 100,000 people when compared to all 50 states and Puerto Rico, according to Miami Herald calculations of COVID-19 data. However, it had the second-highest case rate, behind New York, when compared to the country’s five largest states — California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania.

As of March 22, Florida had a rate of about 33,908 COVID-19 cases for every 100,000 people since the pandemic began. For the week ended Feb 22, 2022 — the week before Ladapo’s tenure began as surgeon general— Florida’s COVID-19 case rate was about 25,982 cases per 100,000 people.

COVID-19 deaths

Since the pandemic began in March 2020 through March 22, 2023, Florida had the 12th highest COVID-19 death rate, per 100,000 people, when compared to all 50 states and Puerto Rico, according to Miami Herald calculations of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

Among the country’s five largest states — California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania — only New York had a higher death rate than Florida’s.

From March 2020 through March 22, 2023, Florida had a rate of about 392 deaths per every 100,000 people, according to Miami Herald calculations. For the week ended Feb. 22, 2022 — the week before Ladapo’s confirmation as surgeon general — Florida’s rate was about 310 deaths per 100,000 people. Ladapo was confirmed by the Florida Senate on Feb. 23, 2022.

COVID-19 vaccines

Florida lags behind many states in the percentage of its population who have received vaccines — from having at least one dose to being up-to-date on booster shots.

As of April 26, 82.9% of Florida’s vaccine-eligible population — ages 5 and up — received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This ranked 22nd when compared to all 50 states and Puerto Rico, according to CDC data.

Similarly, Florida ranked 23rd for the percentage of residents who completed a two-dose or single-dose vaccine, with 69.7% of its population falling into this category as of April 26

Florida ranked 45th in the percentage of its population who’ve completed a two-shot or single-shot vaccine and then had a booster. Only 44% of Florida residents have received a booster.