Summer vaccination numbers: Not so hot

Though COVID-19 vaccines were made widely available this summer, the rate of vaccination slowed across the Tri-state area between the months of June and August.

Between May 25 and Aug. 25, the total percentage of the eligible population (age 12+) with a completed vaccine series reached:

· 65% in Passaic County, N.J., an increase of 19 percentage points

· 62% in Orange County, N.Y., an increase of 14 percentage points

· 59% in Sussex County, N.J., an increase of 12.5 percentage points

· 52% in Pike County, Pa., an increase of 16 percentage points

Across all counties, there were two trending times to be inoculated this summer: the end of June, and the week of Aug. 9.

‘Vaccine was finally available’

Our newsroom surveyed readers who were vaccinated this summer to see what motivated them to get the shot.

Of those surveyed, 60% reported that they always wanted the vaccine, but waited until summer for variety of reasons. Many noted that they had to wait because they contracted the virus earlier in the year.

Others didn’t want to go out during the spring rush.

“I had to wait until it was available where I could get it safely,” said one reader.

“Long lines and crowds,” added another.

Some said that it was just too hard to get an appointment early on. In late winter and early spring, there were limited vaccine doses available, and appointments had to be made online - which left thousands of people scrambling for a handful of appointment slots, and put those who weren’t tech-savvy at a disadvantage.

By the time May rolled around, it was finally possible for people to walk in and get a vaccine at mass vaccination sites and major pharmacies like CVS. One reader waited until summertime because the “vaccine was finally available without jumping through hoops.”

Vetting out the process

Forty percent of survey respondents did not want to be vaccinated initially, but ended up doing so between June and August of this year.

The survey allowed readers to select multiple motivating factors from a list.

More than 90% of those who did not initially want the vaccination said they ended up doing so protect themselves and others. “My young grandson has a heart condition and I wanted to be able to see him,” said one reader.

Forty-three percent said they decided to get the shot this summer because they were waiting to see first if others had adverse reactions. This was the second-most common response among this group.

Newton, N.J., resident Tony Torre waited until June “to vet out the process and observe what was going on publicly,” he said. “Just trying to be cautious and not rush into it.”

Work requirements, mandates

Only four percent of those surveyed said they got the shot because work required it. With the Pfizer vaccine’s FDA approval, it is expected that more workplaces will require vaccination in coming months.

Some mandates are already underway. Employers, including but not limited to CVS, IBM, Google, DoorDash, United Airlines and Amtrak have released statements requiring vaccination for some, if not all employees.

The Department of Defense announced a vaccine mandate for all troops on Aug. 25. According to reporting by the Associated Press, approximately 800,000 service members have not yet been vaccinated.

New York health care workers are required to have completed at least one dose by Sept. 27, affecting approximately 600,000 individuals statewide.

Pennsylvania is requiring its 25,000 commonwealth employees in state health care facilities and high-risk congregate care facilities need to be vaccinated by Sept. 7 or tested weekly.

In New Jersey, all workers in “health care facilities and high-risk congregate settings” need to be vaccinated by Sept. 7, or will be subject to testing at least once a week. According to a recent report by the New Jersey Department of Labor, there are 485,000 health care workers in the state. All New Jersey state employees and K-12 school personnel are required to be fully vaccinated by October 18, or be tested at least once a week. New Jersey has an estimated 130,000 public school teachers and 70,000 state workers.