ORLANDO, Fla. — The vaccination rate in the U.S. has fallen slightly short of President Joe Biden’s hope of having 70% of American adults have at least one dose of the vaccine by this time.
About 67% of American adults have received at least one shot.
However, experts say it is safe to go about your holiday plans if you’re fully vaccinated.
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That means family cookouts, fireworks shows, theme parks and more in Central Florida.
But a handful of people who live here also plan to get out of town to celebrate.
At Orlando International Airport, they are expecting a big traffic boom, which just 14% fewer travelers than 2019 during this holiday travel stretch.
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According to AAA, nearly 2.4 million Floridians are expected to take a road trip this holiday weekend, which is a 5% increase from 2019.
University of Florida economist Dr. Amanda Phalin said the U.S. economy grew a solid 6.4% in the first three months of the year, up 4.3% in the fourth quarter.
These improvements come as more people get vaccinated and get comfortable with their new normal.
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“Our public health and our economic health are linked,” Phalin said. “If the population is not healthy and doesn’t feel safe being out and about spending money, then our economy is going to remain sick as well.”
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