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South Florida doctors stage walkout amid surge in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients
Many Florida hospitals are nearing capacity in their intensive care units as the state contends with a surge of COVID-19 cases
By Thomas Barrabi
A group of 75 South Florida doctors staged a symbolic walkout on Monday to highlight a surge in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the state, according to a report.
The doctors who participated in the demonstration in Palm Beach Gardens cited fatigue and frustration with misinformation that has contributed to vaccine hesitancy in the state. Some of the doctors briefly walked out of their shifts to participate in the protest.
"It’s incredibly frustrating because we know the vaccines are safe and effective and it’s people that go out and talk against them that really go against physicians and medicine and science. It’s not the message we want to get across to people," JT Snarkski, one of the doctors who participated in the walkout, told MSNBC. "Vaccines are safe and we need to get our communities vaccinated."
Many Florida hospitals are nearing capacity in their intensive care units as the state contends with a surge of COVID-19 cases due to the delta variant. As of this week, about 86% of the state’s hospital beds were full, prompting alarm from public health officials.
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