Three out of every four adult Virginians are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus heading into Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, a period epidemiologists fear could bring another surge.
Some 5.5 million Virginians — 64% of the population — are immunized, according to the Virginia Department of Health. And about 839,000 people, or 10%, have received a third COVID-19 vaccine.
The Northam administration said the state has the highest rate of vaccinated residents in the South and is 10th in the nation.
“This is an important milestone that has been months in the making,” Dr. Danny Avula, state vaccination coordinator, said in a statement. “With the recent authorizations for booster doses and a vaccine for children ages 5-11, the Virginia Department of Health will continue to ensure that vaccines are available.”
While much of the United States has returned to life as usual, the aggressive delta variant is fueling hospitalizations in the Mountain West and igniting outbreaks in the North, a harbinger of what could soon happen elsewhere.
Infectious disease experts caution that the pandemic isn’t over. Progress continues on vaccinations, but about 2.4 million Virginians remain completely unvaccinated, creating ample opportunity for the virus to spread. Case rates continued to decline last week, but the trend seems to be slowing, with some localities, such as Hampton, experiencing growth again.
About 5.3% of standard nasal swab tests came back positive for COVID-19 statewide last week, according to the state health department, and about 1,300 new cases are being diagnosed each day.
Virginians hospitalized with infections also dropped to 825 as of Friday, an 11% decline from the week prior, according to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.
There have been at least 699,000 confirmed cases in the state, with 14,321 suspected deaths.
Though children and teens tend to have milder illnesses, they are making up a larger share of cases — nearly one in four infections. In Virginia, 139,000 children have tested positive, and over 1,000 have been hospitalized with severe cases. Eleven have died.
So far, about 58,300 of the state’s children ages 5-11 — or 8% of the newly eligible age group — have received their first shots.
Unvaccinated people have made up the vast majority of the state’s serious illnesses. Though breakthrough cases are happening more often, they are still considered uncommon. There have been 53,733 cases statewide, with 668 ending in death.
Some 46.9 million infections have been reported throughout the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University, and 760,000 Americans have died. About 252.2 million people have had confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide, with 5.1 million deaths.
Hampton Roads had 31 reported fatalities last week: six in Virginia Beach; four in Chesapeake; three each in Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Suffolk; two each in Gloucester, Mathews and York counties; and one each in Accomack and Isle of Wight Counties and Newport News.
There were over 1,300 new infections diagnosed in the region last week. Virginia Beach’s caseload continues to be the highest, with 369 new reports.
Large caseloads are expected in bigger cities, but some communities with fewer people see greater rates of new cases per capita. For last week, Franklin ranked the highest in the region based on population size, at 21 per 100,000 people. It was much more than the rates seen throughout the region, with Virginia Beach and Norfolk at 12 and 8 per 100,000, respectively.
To assist with the growing scope of the vaccination campaign, a clinic at Military Circle Mall, 880 N. Military Hwy., offers vaccine appointments from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
The clinic, set up in the old Macy’s store, also conducts free COVID-19 tests from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Monday. Public health officials say the testing service will continue through the end of this year.
Here’s a look at vaccination rates throughout the region. These figures do not include the 634,000 doses administered to Virginians by the federal government, such as military, because location information has not been provided for them.
In Virginia Beach, 71% of adults and 61% of the entire population have at least one dose. About 54% of all residents are fully inoculated.
In Norfolk, 57% of adults and 49% of the entire population have at least one dose. About 43% of all residents are fully inoculated.
In Newport News, 68% of adults and 56% of the entire population have at least one dose. About 50% of all residents are fully inoculated.
In Chesapeake, 70% of adults and 59% of the entire population have at least one dose. About 52% of all residents are fully inoculated.
In Portsmouth, 64% of adults and 52% of the entire population have at least one dose. About 46% of all residents are fully inoculated.
In Hampton, 67% of adults and 57% of the entire population have at least one dose. About half of all residents are fully inoculated.
In James City County, 83% of adults and 71% of the entire population have at least one dose. About 63% of all residents are fully inoculated.
In Poquoson, 79% of adults and 67% of the entire population have at least one dose. About 60% of all residents are fully inoculated.
In York County, 74% of adults and 62% of the entire population have at least one dose. About 56% of all residents are fully inoculated.
In Suffolk, 70% of adults and 59% of the entire population have at least one dose. About 52% of all residents are fully inoculated.
In Williamsburg, 59% of adults and 55% of the entire population have at least one dose. About 49% of all residents are fully inoculated.
For other pandemic data, go to www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus.
For more information on where to find vaccines, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or www.vaccines.gov. For phone assistance, call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA.
Elisha Sauers, 757-839-4754, elisha.sauers@pilotonline.com
