CHARLESTON — As the number of West Virginians getting vaccinated slows down, Gov. Jim Justice continued Tuesday to stress the need for people to get doses in their arms to keep up the state’s dramatic drop in cases and prevent spread of virus variants.
“All I’m trying to do is continue to encourage you to get vaccinated,” Justice said. “Why run the risk?”
According to information released Tuesday by the Department of Health and Human Resources, the percentage of eligible West Virginians age 12 and older with at least one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines was 63.5%, still short of the goal set by Justice to reach a 65% partial vaccination rate by June 20, the state’s 158th birthday.
While 86.6% of seniors age 65 and older are partially vaccinated, the state continues to struggle with getting eligible children and young adults vaccinated.
It’s also unclear that vaccine incentives, such as gift cards and savings bonds for West Virginians between the ages of 16 and 35, or the vaccine incentive lottery with chances for $1 million, full college scholarships, trucks and other prizes are working at driving people towards getting vaccinated.
The number of first-dose vaccines administered per day have diminished every week, from a weekly peak of 2,134 on June 3, the week after the incentive lottery was announced, to a peak last week of 1,139, a 47% drop.
State health officials are watching the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, which hit India hard two months ago. Justice said studies show that Pfizer and Moderna are effective at blocking infection from the variant and effective at preventing serious infections.
Monday’s DHHR dashboard reported four delta variant infections in the state. Today, the number increased to 12, mostly in Berkeley and Monongalia counties.
“There is a tripling,” said Dr. Ayne Amjad, the state health officer. “Our concern, just like in the rest of the country where you’re seeing the delta variant, is we do want people to get vaccinated. That is our main concern.”
“I encourage you over and over to get a second shot,” Justice said. “If you’re not vaccinated, what are you going to do? Do you realize everything is opening up…if you’re not vaccinated, what are the chances of you ending up with this? It’s too big a chance for me, that’s why I’m vaccinated. I think it is too big of a chance for you too.”
The state has 1,378 active COVID-19 cases as of Monday — a 30% reduction in active cases over the last seven days. Only Berkeley, Harrison, and Kanawha counties have more than 100 active cases. It’s the lowest number of active cases since last May.
“It’s really better. West Virginia, you’re doing so much better,” Justice said.
The County Alert System map shows 53 out of 55 counties in the green, with Mingo and Wyoming counties one step down in the yellow category. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have remained below 100 since June 19, currently holding at 84 hospitalizations. Only 23 of those hospitalizations involve ICU care. There have only been three reported coronavirus deaths since last Thursday’s briefing.
“That’s probably the lowest number I’ve announced in a long, long time,” Justice said. “We continue to trend in a good way, and that’s great stuff.”
The next drawing in the vaccine incentive lottery takes place today, with new drawings every Wednesday until Aug. 4.
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