What Percent Of Westfield Teens Are COVID Vaccinated?

WESTFIELD, NJ — While vaccinations are lowering the numbers of hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID, the state of New Jersey said Thursday said there has been an uptick in hospitalizations statewide, likely due to the highly transmissible Delta variant of the virus.

Last week, Gov. Phil Murphy wrote:

On Friday, Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle released information about the number of town residents who are vaccinated.

She said, "We now have access to vaccination data in the 12-17 age group for the first vaccination dose only, which is 58 percent in Westfield."

As for children under 12, they're not eligible yet to receive any of the COVID vaccines, and may not be eligible until winter, federal officials said last week. The FDA is requiring four to six months of followup safety data for kids, rather than the two months required for adults.

"With the Delta variant proving to be more contagious than other strains of COVID, please get vaccinated if you are eligible," Brindle said.

Medical professionals and officials are concerned about the rise in cases of the Delta variant of the virus in New Jersey, spreading to both unvaccinated and vaccinated residents. READ MORE: 'Breakthrough' COVID-19 Cases, Deaths In NJ: Here's What To Know

The vaccine is still 95 percent effective against the virus, medical professionals say. For vaccinated people who get it, they say, the chances of hospitalization and death are lower than if unvaccinated.

Brindle gave these vaccination statistics for Westfield residents on Friday:

Fully Vaccinated:

• 90 percent of those 65 and older
• 88 percent of adults (18+)
• 69 percent of the entire population

One Shot:

• 95 percent of those 65 and older
• 95 percent of the adult population (18+)
• 74 percent of the entire population

County And State Updates

In Union County, 345,430 residents (62 percent of the total population) have received one dose of vaccine, and 306,989 (55 percent of the total population) are fully vaccinated.

As of Thursday, there were four confirmed deaths statewide from the virus since the day before, and more than 300 people hospitalized, the state said.

• RELATED: New Jersey Mom Urges: Please Listen to COVID 'Long-Haulers'

Other COVID Information

The highly transmissible delta variant now makes up approximately 83 percent of cases in the United States, officials said recently.

READ MORE: COVID Hospitalizations Spike In NJ As Delta Variant Spreads

More than 606,000 Americans have now died from COVID (see which states have the highest recent death rates here).

Students at Kean University were told last week that if they don't provide proof of a COVID vaccine by Aug. 1, they "will be deregistered from your courses for the fall 2021 semester." There are exceptions and exemptions.

Here is information on vaccine side effects, including rare but severe effects.

Nationally, as of Monday, more than 186.3 million people, or about 56 percent of the U.S. population, have received at least one dose of the vaccine, the CDC said last week. The number includes Americans of all ages, but children under 12 are not yet eligible to receive the shots.

More than 161.4 million, or about half of the U.S. population, are fully vaccinated, the CDC said.

Related Stories

• READ MORE: No Mask Mandate For NJ Students This Fall
• READ MORE: 4 Things To Know About The Delta Variant Of Coronavirus In NJ
• READ MORE: NJ Mom Urges: Please Listen to COVID 'Long-Haulers'

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