Last week set a new high mark for the number of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Schuylkill County. At the end of the week (through March 6), a total of 5,741 people got either their first or second dose of a vaccine.
Now, approximately 12% of Schuylkill County residents approved to get a vaccine (16 and older) have been fully vaccinated. That’s 12,813 people, specifically. Our percentage is based on 75% of the county population over the age of 16 (about 105,000).
The more than 5,700 people who received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from either Pfizer or Moderna is, again, a new high mark for doses given to local residents. It beat the 5,050 the week prior. About 23% of those approved for a vaccine have gotten at least one dose.
That number is sure to rise on a weekly basis, at least temporarily, once school teachers and other education professionals get their one-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson.
The total number of Schuylkill County residents to get a COVID vaccine keeps creeping higher slowly. That’s likely due to Pennsylvania’s lackluster distribution of vaccine doses to providers. Numerous local residents have complained that it’s difficult to get an appointment for a vaccine. According to Becker Hospital Review data (updated March 5), Pennsylvania ranks 43rd among states in vaccine doses administered. The state has only given 70% of the doses it has received from the federal government.
The top 5 states – based on percentage of doses – in COVID vaccine administration are:
- New Mexico (86.25%)
- North Dakota (85.17%)
- Wisconsin (85.08%)
- West Virginia (83.92%)
- New Jersey (83.53%)
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