Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting today two more deaths from COVID-19 for a statewide total of 275. The VDH is also reporting 144 additional cases with 30 people hospitalized and four in the ICU. Cases remain elevated because of the Delta variant. At the beginning of the summer cases were running below 10 on many days with no deaths and few hospitalized. Now cases are typically over 100 with more than 25 hospitalized.
The Department of Financial regulation has also revised its modeling this week on estimated deaths for August due to COVID. Previously it expected zero to 6 deaths. Now the modeling suggests up to 18 COVID fatalities, with 13 as of Thursday.
Some of the cases and deaths across the nation and in Vermont are "breakthrough" cases of those already vaccinated.
According to the VDH, vaccines prevent the vast majority of severe hospitalizations and deaths. A small number of fully vaccinated people will still get COVID 19. When a fully vaccinated person gets infected with COVID 19, that’s called vaccine breakthrough. Vaccine breakthrough happens with any vaccine including measles, mumps, flu and others.
About 436,711 people have been fully vaccinated in Vermont. The breakthrough cases represent a small portion, about 0.3%, of the fully vaccinated population.
Since January 2021, 6.5% of cases among Vermont residents have been fully vaccinated.
There have been 30 hospitalizations and 10 deaths among the 1,209 cases of vaccine breakthrough in Vermont.
Meanwhile, the age range of COVID cases has shifted in August. Now in August, cases are most prevalent in the 30-39 age group (55.8 per 100,000) and 0-9 (53.2/100K). But overall since the start of the pandemic, the 20-29 age group has by far the most cases (65.9/100K) followed by 10-19 (55.3/100K) and 30-39 (51.2/100K). The 0-9 age group is at 36.5 per 100K. Those under 12 are still ineligible to receive any vaccine.
The VDH did not offer an explanation of why there was been a shift in cases in August.
Today's COVID case and vaccination dashboards are below.
For additional current data graphics released today by VDH, click HERE. For the full DFR modeling, click HERE.
Governor Phil Scott announced on Tuesday a series of walk-in vaccination clinics that will be open at schools and other sites across Vermont this week for anyone age 12 or older. You can just walk-in or visit www.healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine to make an appointment. You can also call 855-722-7878. See also current vaccination and COVD-19 case data below.
Case counts are still rising but at a slower rate than previous weeks. According to data from other countries, like the UK and Israel, the Delta variant, which is the cause of most new infections here, peaks around nine weeks. Vermont is in the seventh week of our Delta surge.
VDH Commissioner Mark Levine said that while Vermont has the highest vaccination rate in the US, he believes that the state has the highest fully vaccinated rate in the world. Some nation's, like the UK, gave one dose to as many people as possible to offer widespread immunization. Levine said that worked well until the more transmissible and dangerous Delta hit.
The vaccination sites listed below also offer additional doses for those currently eligible based on guidance issued last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some primary care providers and pharmacies are also offering additional doses. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Here are the vaccination sites available this week (see www.healthvermont.gov for more information):
Friday, August 27
Caledonia County Fair, 1 Back Fairground Road, Lyndonville
Champlain Valley Fair, 105 Pearl Street, Essex Junction
Bondville Fair, 350 VT Route 30, Bondville
Newport Waterfront Plaza, Newport
Middlebury Union High School, 73 Charles Ave, Middlebury
Blue Mountain High School, 2420 U.S. Route 302, Wells River
St. Johnsbury Academy, 1000 Main Street, St. Johnsbury
1311 Barre Montpelier Road, Berlin
Saturday, August 28
Caledonia County Fair, 1 Back Fairground Road, Lyndonville
Chandler Center for the Arts - Music Series, 24 Elm Street, Randolph
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick Street, Greensboro
U32 High School, 930 Gallison Hill Road, Montpelier
Richford High School, 1 Corliss Heights, Richford
Bondville Fair, 350 VT Route 30, Bondville
Champlain Valley Fair, 105 Pearl Street, Essex Junction
West Fairlee Old Home Day, 870 Route 113, Fairlee
Sunday, August 29
Caledonia County Fair, 1 Back Fairground Road, Lyndonville
Crossett Brook Middle School, 5672 VT Route 100, Duxbury
Vergennes High School, 50 Monkton Road, Vergennes
Champlain Valley Fair, 105 Pearl Street, Essex Junction
More ways to get your free vaccine:
Make an appointment for a free vaccine
You can also walk-in at CVS, Hannaford Food and Drug, Walmart, Walgreens, Price Chopper/Market 32, Rite Aid, Shaw’s Supermarket, or Costco or get an appointment with Kinney Drugs, CVS, Walgreens, Northfield Pharmacy, or UVMMC Outpatient Pharmacies.