As Vermont reached an 80% vaccination rate, eligible residents of Bradford and surrounding communities are receiving the COVID19 vaccine at a pace comparable to the rest of the state.
According to data from the Vermont Department of Health, Bradford’s vaccination rate was between 81 and 90%, as was the rate in Thetford. Fairlee’s vaccination rate was higher than 90%, and Chelsea’s vaccination rate was between 71 and 80%.
Corinth, Vershire, Washington, Newbury, Topsham, Ryegate, and Strafford all had vaccination rates between 61 and 70%. Orange and West Fairlee had lower vaccination rates, and the Department of Health noted that they had experienced issues gathering vaccine data in both of those towns.
Currently, any Vermont resident aged 12 or older can be vaccinated against COVID-19. Locations throughout the state offer the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Gov. Phil Scott announced during a June 14 press conference that 80% of Vermonters had received at least one vaccine dose, and that as a result, all state pandemic restrictions would be lifted.
“The people we vaccinate tomorrow are just as important as those we vaccinated yesterday,” Scott said.
Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine said at the same press conference that it is still important to make sure Vermont’s entire population receives the vaccine, as the 20% of Vermonters who have not received the vaccine are still vulnerable to the coronavirus.
“Low incidence rates are not the same as zero,” Levine said. “Find your reason to get vaccinated.”
There were four new COVID-19 cases in Caledonia County between June 14 and June 20, according to Department of Health data. There were zero new cases in Orange County.
Over the course of the pandemic, Vermont has seen 24,339 cases and 256 deaths, according to a June 15 report published by the Department of Health.
In New Hampshire, 60.6% of eligible residents have received at least one vaccine dose, according to the New Hampshire COVID-19 Response website.
Grafton County recorded 11 new coronavirus cases between June 7 and June 21, three of which were still active on June 15.
The New Hampshire COVID-19 Response website does not publish vaccination data by location. According to the website, all New Hampshire residents age 16 and over are eligible for vaccination.
In New Hampshire, vaccines are available at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, as well as at staterun sites in Lancaster, Lebanon, Littleton, and Plymouth and at the Walmart, Rite Aid, and Shaw’s pharmacies in Wooville.
In Vermont, vaccines are available at the Kinney Drugs and Hannaford pharmacies in Bradford.
Bradford town officials did not respond to requests for comment, while numerous pharmacies in Bradford and Woodsville were unable to comment on local vaccine rollout due to company public relations
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