City of Panama Beach issued the following announcement on August 4.
Hello and welcome to the latest installment of Minute with Mark. Summer has been very busy and it’s been awhile since I last communicated with you.
Today I am compelled to do so because of a critical need in our community. Today, as mayor of Panama City Beach, as a father, a husband, as a son and brother, I strongly urge you to please get vaccinated for COVID-19.
The current number of new cases in Bay County is among the highest in the nation. It is higher than it has ever been. Many of our hospital ICU beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients. Many are younger patients.
We are a hot spot and our people are dying. This includes our friends, our neighbors, and family members.
As a community, we need to take additional precautions. What we have now, that we didn’t have a year ago, is a vaccine effective at minimizing the risks and symptoms. I have personally received the vaccine, with no ill effects. I did this, though I contracted COVID-19 last year, and most likely still had some antibodies which provide some protection. I can personally tell you that my COVID experience was worse than my vaccine shot.
But today we are talking about a different strain of COVID. The Delta variant is MORE contagious and is hitting our young people hard. But the largest group getting COVID-19 today, are the unvaccinated. Yes, it is possible to get the virus even if you have been vaccinated, but all indications are that the symptoms are significantly less severe, in those who had the vaccine.
Currently Bay County’s vaccination rate is at 35%. Florida’s is at 49% and the U.S. rate is 51%. This is not good enough, folks, and it is just not worth risking your life over.
The well-being of our community is at stake.
We can do better. We can help each other. We can help our community.
You can get the vaccine at the Health Department, Publix, CVS, Walgreens, Pancare, Winn Dixie, Walmart, Sam’s Club, or check with your local pharmacy. We are posting a link for the contact information for these locations on the City’s Facebook page, website and the NextDoor app for your convenience.
These are my personal COVID-19 experiences and my thoughts. Please talk to your family, your doctor or the Department of Health about this important issue.
Again, I urge you. Please. Get vaccinated. It’s the right thing to do to stop the spread.
Thank you and God Bless You.
Vaccination locator map
Testing site locator
Original source can be found here.
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