Florida doctor to refuse in-person treatment for unvaccinated patients

A Florida doctor said she will no longer treat primary care patients in person who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Linda Marraccini, a family medicine doctor in South Miami, sent a letter to patients informing them that because the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for general use by the Food and Drug Administration, unvaccinated individuals will no longer be allowed to attend in-person appointments at her practice.

"This is a public health emergency — the health of the public takes priority over the rights of any given individual in this situation," Marraccini wrote in the letter, obtained by NBC Miami. "It appears that there is a lack of selflessness and concern for the burden on the health and well-being of our society from our encounters. "

The decision comes amid a nationwide spike in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of new variants like the highly-transmissible delta variant. Florida's 7-day rolling average of new cases is the second highest of any state. The state has the second-most people hospitalized with COVID-19, despite an 11% decrease over the past week.

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Marraccini's policy is scheduled to go into effect Sept. 15, but she told Newsweek she will continue to see unvaccinated patients who have not found a new practice by that date via telehealth visits, particularly those who need prescriptions or who have not received the vaccine due to hardships.

"We will no longer subject our patients and staff to unnecessary risk," Marraccini said.

The letter also states that she will work with patients who have a valid medical reason for not receiving the vaccine, though she notes that such cases are virtually nonexistent according to most medical professionals.

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