COLUMBUS, Ohio — A majority of Ohio residents have now taken a COVID-19 vaccine following a significant uptick in the vaccination rate in recent weeks, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health.
What You Need To Know
- The vaccination rate has more than doubled since mid-July
- Concern regarding the delta variant is driving vaccinations
- Young people have taken the vaccine at the lowest rates
The latest update to Ohio’s vaccination dashboard shows that more than 5.8 million people, or more than 50% of the population, have received at least one vaccine dose, while 46% of the state is fully vaccinated.
Average daily vaccinations have more than doubled since mid-July, when the upswing in immunizations began, the data shows. The current vaccination rate, 10,344 first-dose shots per day, is the highest it has been since June 12.
The surge in vaccinations comes as COVID-19 cases in the state are soaring.
As the more contagious delta variant spreads, seven-day average cases rose to 1,742 on Sunday, a more than eightfold increase from the level one month ago. On Monday, 1,046 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19, an increase from just 200 a month ago.
State officials said they believe that concern regarding the delta variant is partially behind the increase in the vaccination rate.
New incentives for vaccination, like a $100 reward offered to Medicaid recipients in Ohio, are also driving vaccinations, according to officials.
As cases rise due to the delta variant, more employers in Ohio have announced vaccination requirements, including many of the hospitals in the state.
Ohio ranks 35th of U.S. states for first-dose vaccinations, according to the Mayo Clinic’s tracker.
Among adults 18 and older, the state’s vaccination rate is around 61%, according to Ohio Department of Health data. For the age group eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Ohioans 12 and older, around 58% have started vaccination.
In Ohio, young adults have not been getting vaccinated at nearly the same rates as seniors. Among the 20 to 29 age group, the vaccination rate is just 42%, compared to an 82% vaccination rate for seniors 65 and older.
