Even as COVID-19 hospitalizations start to drop across the state of Florida, deaths among nursing home residents are on the rise.

An analysis of federal data by Spectrum News 13 and the Orlando Sentinel found 184 resident deaths occurred within the first three weeks in August. That’s about double the total seen in July, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

The numbers come as Florida remains at the bottom when it comes to vaccinations, both for residents and staff at long-term care facilities.

“We are near the bottom of the barrel with vaccinations,” said Jeff Johnson, the state director of AARP Florida. “There is huge variation from facility to facility. There are facilities that are near or at 100% of staff vaccinated. There are some where, like, nobody has been vaccinated.”

In a comparison of all 50 states as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam, Florida was third from last for residents who were fully vaccinated with 73.7%. Vermont leads the nation with 96.02% vaccinated.

The numbers are even worse for staff in Florida with only 48.05% of nursing home staff vaccinated. Only Louisiana is worse in this regard with 47.78% of its nursing home staff being fully vaccinated.

President Joe Biden is hoping to increase that number by warning that unless nursing homes risk losing federal funds from Medicare and Medicaid if staff members aren't fully vaccinated.

Kristen Knapp, a spokesperson for the Florida Health Care Association, representing about 560 nursing homes, said she worries about the ramifications of a federal mandate.

“There are concerns staff will leave because they are being mandated to take the vaccine,” she said. “That is extremely concerning when we already have a shortage in our work force.”

Cocoa resident Tammy Findlay-Bell’s father, Earl Robbins, 83, has been in Solaris Healthcare Merritt Island since March. She said the care he has received has been great, but is worried about a recent case where a resident tested positive for COVID-19.

“My fear was, was it his roommate? Is it someone really close to him? Is it someone that he’s interacted with? So, all those fears come into play, but so far, my dad’s been fine,” Findlay-Bell said.

CMS data shows that this facility has had four COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic and 73 residents who’ve tested positive for the virus. 

Of the facility's current residents, 93.48% are fully vaccinated, but only 58.53% of current health care staff are vaccinated.