COVID-19 Dashboard

COVID-19 in Florida: A Disparities Dashboard

The updated Florida Health Justice Project’s (FHJP) COVID-19 Disparities Dashboard presents COVID-19 data in accordance with the Florida Department of Health’s (FDOH) transition from daily to weekly COVID-19 data reporting in June 2021 (Florida Will No Longer Release Daily COVID-19 Numbers, Moves to Weekly Reports). The FHJP COVID-19 Disparities Dashboard presents COVID-19 data stratified by state/county level. This dashboard also presents state-level data further stratified by race/ethnicity and age groups.

County level data includes cumulative vaccination and case positivity rates, as well as the number of cases per 100,000 population. In addition to the aforementioned, state level data includes the number of deaths per 100,000 population further stratified by race/ethnicity and age groups.
Observed county-level disparities are likely due to a confluence of factors, such as the demographic and socio-economic makeup of the county (e.g., age distribution, poverty rate, uninsurance rate), among others. Observed racial/ethnic and age disparities may be influenced by individual risk factors (e.g. co-morbidities, medication use such as immunosuppressants and being of older age), among others. However, it is also important to acknowledge the significant impact of the social and economic environment on the observed racial/ethnic disparities (e.g., the higher prevalence of minorities in high-exposure occupations, multi-generational housing, access to care barriers), among others (Please consider reading, “The State of COVID-19 in Florida and South Florida: An Early Look at Disparities in Outcomes”).

There are limitations in the data presented. The data available does not present a complete picture of the disparities that may exist on a more granular level (i.e. at the county level) since county-level data stratified by race/ethnicity and age is no longer available in the new FDOH weekly reports. Also, COVID-19 hospitalization data is no longer available. As such, the measure of severe COVID-19 illness is solely reliant on mortality data which may present an incomplete account of COVID-19 severity given the known time lag between the report of cases and death. As the number of COVID-19 cases rise without similar increases in the number of deaths, the time lag between reported cases and deaths may offer a false sense of security. Hospitalization data is also no longer available in FDOH COVID-19 weekly situation reports. As a measure of disease severity, hospitalization data may offer timely insight pertaining to COVID-19 disease severity. Hospitalization data may also offer critical insight pertaining to the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare system capacity and changes in disease severity; offering insight into the possible trajectory of COVID-19 deaths in light of the time lag associated with reported deaths.

September COVID-19 Data Update: While Miami-Dade county saw a spike in the number of cases per 100,000 population during the week of September 17th, overall, trend data for the September 2021 update (spanning the period of September 3 to October 7) shows a steady decrease in the number of cases per 100,000 population (regardless of county, race/ethnicity, and age) on the state level, as well as in the observed counties. In the final two weeks of the update, non-Hispanic (NH) Blacks and NH Whites closed out the month similarly leading in the number of cases per 100,000 population with NH Whites having a slightly higher number of cases.

On the contrary, overall, there was a small but steady increase in the number of deaths per 100,000 population for all race/ethnicity and age groups. Blacks and seniors (65 years and older) continue to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 deaths.

COVID-19 State/County Level Data: While Duval county continues to have the lowest vaccination rate of all counties, there was an increase in the vaccination rate from 60% to 63% since the last update. Vaccination rates have also increased in all other counties and on the state level since the last update (FL: 69% to 72%; Miami-Dade: 88% to 92% ; Orange: 70% to 74%) with Miami-Dade and Orange counties seeing the largest percentage increase.

COVID-19 State Level Data by Race/Ethnicity: Blacks (regardless of ethnicity group) have the lowest vaccination rate (27% for NH Blacks and 28% for Hispanic Blacks). However, all race/ethnicity groups saw an increase in vaccination rates since the last update (NH White: 38% to 39%; NH Black: 24% to 27%; Hispanic White: 37% to 39%; Hispanic Black: 26% to 28%) with NH Blacks seeing the largest percentage increase.

COVID-19 State Level Data by Age: Seniors (65 years and older) continue to have the highest vaccination rate while those 20 to 29 years old continue to lag behind. However, all age groups saw an increase in the proportion of vaccinated with those 12-19 years old seeing the largest percentage increase (i.e. from 50% to 55%) since the last update. Overall, there was an increase of 3% in the vaccination rate among all age groups (i.e. from 69% to 72%).

To scroll through county-level charts, click on the arrow at the right edge of the first graph.

Updated FHJP COVID-19 Disparities Dashboard by Dr. Shenae Samuels-Staple

Sign-up For Email Updates

The Florida Health Justice Project, a nonprofit organization, recognizes that access to quality and affordable health care is a human right and engages in comprehensive advocacy to expand healthcare access and promote health equity for vulnerable Floridians.

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE WITHIN THE STATE AT 1-800-435-7352 . IT CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT WWW.800HELPFLA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE STATE.