Austin-Travis County reaches 70% vaccination of eligible residents as hospitalizations tick back up
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Travis County has reached a new COVID-19 vaccination threshold. (Eva Vigh / Community Impact Zeitung)
Travis County crossed a new vaccination limit on July 6, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, at which 70% of residents ages 12 and older were vaccinated with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The area missed Austin Public Health’s goal of achieving 70% vaccination coverage of eligible residents by Independence Day – a goal shared by the White House. Travis County’s vaccination rates surpass those of the country and state; however, approximately 64.4% of eligible US citizens received at least one dose and 58.22% of eligible Texans.
According to DSHS data, 60.78% of eligible district residents were fully vaccinated and 54.14% of the total population were fully vaccinated.
Public health experts, including local APH experts, have set vaccination of 70% of the total population as the threshold above which the public could establish herd immunity to COVID-19. Dr. However, Austin-Travis County’s Health Department Desmar Walkes said that herd immunity could be further away than originally expected due to the increasing prevalence of contagious coronavirus variants, including the Delta variant.
“We continue to monitor our case numbers and hospital admissions, knowing that these will have an impact due to the Delta variant. We will adjust our recommendations accordingly, ”Walkes said in a July 7 press release.
APH has not yet confirmed any cases of the Delta variant in Travis County, but neighbors including Williamson County have. As of July 7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that the Delta variant is responsible for more than half of US coronavirus cases and more than 58% of cases in Texas.
The strain is more contagious and dangerous than the original virus, according to the CDC. While Pfizer and Moderna vaccines offer protection against Delta, and studies on the effectiveness of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine against the strain are pending, those who are not vaccinated may be at greater risk of hospitalization and serious health effects if they develop it.
Meanwhile, Travis County is seeing a surge in COVID-19 hospital admissions: On July 7, the Austin area recorded a seven-day moving average of 13.9 daily coronavirus-related hospitalizations, up from a low of 6.6 on June 19 daily moving average By 15, APH could recommend a return to level 3 pandemic safety guidelines.
“Our advice remains the same: get vaccinated. It is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your neighborhood as a whole, ”said Adrienne Sturrup, APH interim director, in the press release.
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