Montco's Vaccination Rate Climbs, Restrictions Eased: The Latest

NORRISTOWN, PA — The vaccination rate in Montgomery County continues to steadily climb, as county officials have removed another set of mitigation measures this week, bringing the region a step closer to the end of the pandemic.

The county has fully vaccinated 40 percent of its total population, and 46 percent of its eligible, 12 years old and up population, according to the latest statistics from the county's Office of Public Health.

All told, the county has distributed 93,467 first doses, 89,405 second doses, and 8,520 doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

"As a result of the progress made, we've all seen the safe return of a greater degree of normalcy," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh shared via social media this week.

This week, the county lifted their mask requirement for summer camps and summer schools, pointing to "historic lows" in new case numbers and a percent positivity rate in the county that has fallen to 1.27 percent.

Efforts remain underway to vaccinate the final segments of the population as the region works toward herd immunity, which experts believe is attainable when 70 to 80 percent of an entire population is either fully vaccinated or has developed antibodies from a prior infection.

The Phillie Phanatic will join Elmwood Park Zoo in a special effort to encourage vaccinations, which also offered free zoo admission to those who received shots.

"As always, it's up to all of us to keep these trends going," Arkoosh added. "Get vaccinated if you haven't already and get tested if you feel you've been exposed to COVID-19."

Check out the full COVID-19 vaccine clinic schedule online here.