COVID-19 Daily Update
May 11, 2021
New or updated information is in red and bold
This update is available online at healthvermont.gov/covid19
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Vermont preparing to open vaccination to 12- to 15-year-olds
Following the FDA’s authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds on Monday, state officials said at Tuesday’s press conference that Vermont is prepared to open registration as soon as it clears approval from the CDC.
Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, said the FDA’s action was “great news,” adding it was informed by clinical trials that included 2,260 children ages 12-15 years old in the U.S. — about half of whom got Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.
“There were 18 cases of COVID-19 in the placebo group and, significantly, none in the vaccinated group — that’s 100% efficacy,” Dr. Levine said. “Side effects were about the same as those seen in people 16 years old and older.”
He encouraged parents — or anyone — with questions about the vaccine to visit healthvermont.gov/covid-19 or talk to a trusted pediatrician or health care provider.
“These conversations are the ones that will help you get the fact-based information you need to make an informed decision,” Dr. Levine said.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will meet on Wednesday and are expected to recommend the vaccine to the CDC, which will almost certainly approve its use that evening, Dr. Levine said.
Human Services Secretary Mike Smith said Vermont is planning to open registration as soon as possible. If the decision comes outside of business hours, registration will be opened at 8:15 a.m. the next morning, he said.
“As a reminder, families with children in this age group will be eligible to go to any site across the state that offers the Pfizer vaccine,” he said.
Beginning May 17, school-based clinics will also be available. The schedule should be finalized in the next couple of days, Secretary Smith said.
In the meantime, parents can start planning ahead by creating an account on our website: healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine. If you already have an account of your own, you can add your child as a dependent.
There are about 27,000 Vermonters in the 12-15 age range.
Dr Levine added that Vermont is now at a similar position as the United Kingdom and Israel in vaccine uptake. Those two nation's, he said, have seen a steep decline in COVID-19 cases.
However, Dr Levine also said that Vermont has had a much lower infection rate than those countries and the US as a whole. So, to protect Vermonters he is urging everyone who has not done so yet to get vaccinated.
Vermont has the highest vaccination rate in the nation and the second lowest number of COVID-19 cases per capita (Hawaii is lowest).
Governor Scott said that if Vermonters continue to exceed vaccine goals, that he may be able to accelerate the state's reopening timeline. He had designated July 4 as the "back to normal" day.
He said he will have more information about that Friday. He added, however, that on Saturday he will extend his State of Emergency another month.
Walk-in vaccine opportunities now available
Looking to walk in to a vaccine clinic without an appointment? You can! Check out the latest opportunities on our website: healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine and follow our social media feeds @healthvermont to stay up to date.
Remember that a clinic’s vaccine supply for walk-ins is limited, so the best way to guarantee your vaccination is to make an appointment through our website.
COVID-19 testing is important and available right near you
COVID-19 is a highly transmissible virus, and getting tested is not just the only way to know if you have the virus, it’s also how we protect our loved ones and our communities.
If you are unvaccinated (including children) and traveled outside the state, you must have a COVID-19 test within 3 days of returning to Vermont. For more details, visit our website.
And if you have any symptom, no matter how mild, such as a headache, cough, fatigue or a runny nose, talk to your health care provider to get referred for testing. It’s also important to avoid going to work, school or other places until you receive a negative result.
Even if you don’t have symptoms, you can still have COVID-19 and not feel sick. If you don’t have symptoms and want to get tested, there are many test sites now available around the state. It’s free and easy!
COVID-19 Activity in Vermont
Data is updated daily.
| Description | Number | ||
| New cases |
52 (23,606 total) |
||
| Currently hospitalized | 14 | ||
| Hospitalized in ICU | 3 | ||
| Hospitalized under investigation | 1 | ||
| Percent Positive (7-day average) | 1% | ||
| People tested | 385,897 | ||
| Total tests | 1,634,098 | ||
| Total people recovered | 21,611 | ||
| Deaths | 251 |
Find more data on COVID-19 Activity at: healthvermont.gov/currentactivity.
COVID-19 Vaccine Data
As of 12 p.m. on May 11, 2021
Data is updated Tuesdays through Saturdays.
| Description | Number | ||
| Total people who have received least one dose of vaccine | 377,793 (69.1% of 16+ population) |
||
| Total people who have completed vaccination | 273,165 (50% of 16+ population) |
Find more vaccine data on the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard: healthvermont.gov/covid19-vaccine-data.
Additional Resources About Vaccination and More
- Find answers to your questions about the COVID-19 vaccine from the CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html.
- Get Vermont-specific information in our Frequently Asked Questions.
- Sign up for the COVID-19 Weekly Email Update.
- Find information sheets, posters and toolkits, as well as translated materials on our Resources web page.