COVID-19 vaccinations are on the uptick in Suffolk County.
After a steady weekly decline that began in late May, the number of vaccine doses administered in Suffolk has been on the rise over the past four weeks.
COVID vaccinations plummeted in Suffolk from an average of more than 50,000 weekly doses in March and April to an average of just 10,000 weekly doses in July.
The decline was not for lack of eligible arms, though. As of yesterday, more 340,333 eligible Suffolk residents — people 12 years and older — remain unvaccinated, according to data published by the State Department of Health. An estimated 287,835 of them are 18 and older.
When Suffolk’s 205,125 children under age 12 — who are not yet eligible for a vaccine — are factored in, the number of unvaccinated Suffolk residents balloons to more than half a million people: 545,458 individuals.
More than half the unvaccinated in Suffolk are under age 18.
Health officials urge all eligible people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, especially since the more infectious delta variant has become the prevalent strain of the virus in the U.S. Fueled by the spread of delta, infections have been on the rise in Suffolk County and across New York since the beginning of July. As of July 31, more than 62% of all new COVID-19 infections were the delta strain infections, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most of the states in the U.S., including New York, are currently considered areas of high transmission, meaning there are more than 100 new cases per 100k population.
As the virus surges again across the country, where in some states it is beginning to overwhelm hospitals, local and state officials are beginning to see a rise in people taking the vaccine.
Vaccinations have been paid for by taxpayer dollars and they are free to all recipients, regardless of insurance or immigration status.
Over 346 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in the U.S. since Dec. 14 and serious side effects have been extremely rare, according to the CDC.
The vaccine provides effective immunity to the virus, including all variants of concern. When “breakthrough” infections occur — a more common occurrence with the delta variant — the symptoms of the disease are almost never serious enough to require hospitalization, according to CDC data. However, vaccinated people who contract COVID-19/delta can spread the disease to others as readily as unvaccinated infected people can spread it — even if they are asymptomatic.
After studying cases emerging from a COVID-19 outbreak in Cape Cod, Massachusetts this summer, the CDC revised its guidance to recommend that vaccinated people wear masks in indoor public places and in crowded outdoor settings — reversing previous guidance for vaccinated people issued in May.
Vaccines are available on Thursday, Aug. 12 and Friday, Aug. 13 (10 a.m. to 3. p.m.) at the Riverhead Senior Center at 60 Shade Tree Lane in Aquebogue. No appointments are necessary. More information about availability of COVD-19 vaccines.
The Express News Group is hosting a virtual panel discussion on the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Their panel of medical experts and community leaders will offer factual medical information, offer advice and answer questions. Here’s the link to register for the event.
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