With the opening of school not that far away, the push is increasing to get those aged 12 and above vaccinated soon enough to be fully immunized against COVID-19 before classes start around Labor Day.
It's part of the national effort to get everyone possible vaccinated. Science is that it takes about five weeks from the first shot to full immunity and school isn't that much farther away.
There are research studies underway to see if the current vaccines can be used on those under age 12. That means there will be kids in schools this fall who are vaccinated and others who aren't, either because they haven't received a shot or because they are too young.
In Erie County, the Health Department is pushing hard for those vaccinations, practically going door-to-door to get shots in arms in areas with low vaccine rates. Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein said there aren't as many kids vaccinated as the department would like.
"We have made progress. So about 40% of Erie County 12-15-year-olds and 49% of 16 and 17-year-olds in Erie County have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine," Burstein said, "and I have to say that my partners in community pediatrics have been great champions of trying to get all their patients vaccinated against COVID."
However, testing has fallen off. Burstein said just because there are vaccines, that doesn't mean people should give up on basics like wearing masks, social distancing and hand-washing, as the virus still around.
"There are many strategies that we need to implement for COVID-19 prevention," she said. "So we know that vaccination is an important piece. However, masking, social distancing, screening people with symptoms, making sure that people who have symptoms are tested, so we can know their status. Making sure that people who are exposed and aren't vaccinated are in quarantine."
The most recent Erie County COVID data can be found here. Vaccination sites can be found here.
