- January 26, 2025
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from: AdventHealth Central Florida Division Corporate Communications
AdventHealth reached 250,000 COVID-19 vaccines administered across communities served by the hospital system.
“It’s a great achievement to reach that milestone,” said Dr. John Monson, a colorectal surgeon and executive medical director of digestive health and surgery at the AdventHealth Digestive Health Institute at AdventHealth Morning Briefing on Thursday, April 29.
Monson said questions about the vaccines come up frequently in his talks with his patients, who typically have chronic digestive health conditions.
“I tell them, ‘Go ahead and get vaccinated,’” Monson said. “It’s not going to be harmful to them. It will give them protection. Many have underlying conditions like cancer or inflammatory bowel disease where they are vulnerable.”
Dr. Duane Davis, chief physician executive of the AdventHealth Institutes and a lung transplant surgeon, emphasized that vaccination is critical as the community seeks to move out of the pandemic.
About 440 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 across AdventHealth’s hospitals in Central Florida, a number that has “plateaued,” in recent weeks, Davis said. He noted that many of the people hospitalized are now younger and unvaccinated.
“It’s vitally important that the community gets vaccinated to get us back to normal as quickly as possible,” he said.
Monson and Davis both noted that simple cancer screenings such as colonoscopies save lives, and that the hospital system is taking a number of precautions to keep patients safe such as testing every patient for the virus, mask-wearing and other hygiene procedures.
In addition to screenings, people can help control some conditions commonly seen at AdventHealth’s Digestive Health Institute such as irritable bowel syndrome and others through a healthy and balanced diet.
