Virginia Vaccination Rates Highest Among 70s, 80+ Age Groups

VIRGINIA — On a statewide basis, the highest rates of COVID-19 vaccinations are among the oldest adults, according to Virginia Department of Health data.

The state's health department tracks vaccine demographic data for age groups, race and ethnicity groups and gender. Demographic data varies when viewed on a locality level. But on the state level, the age group with the highest vaccinations per 100,000 people is the 70s age group.

People 75 and older became eligible for the vaccine in mid-January, and eligibility was soon expanded to people 65 and older as well as those 16 to 64 with an underlying condition. All other adults and teens aged 16 or 17 are eligible for the vaccine when their health district moves to phase 2. All of Virginia will be in phase 2 by April 18.

Here are the fully vaccinated rates for age groups in Virginia.

• 10-19: 1,572 per 100,000 people
• 20-29: 11,081 per 100,000 people
• 30-39: 15,580 per 100,000 people
• 40-49: 19,464 per 100,000 people
• 50-59: 23,709 per 100,000 people
• 60-69: 41,445 per 100,000 people
• 70-79: 59,566 per 100,000 people
• 80 and older: 57,343 per 100,000 people

The University of Virginia's weekly COVID-19 modeling report noted that 1 in 4 Virginians 70 and older have not yet received the first vaccine dose, with vaccine uptake in this age group slowing in recent weeks. Researchers cited two possible factors contributing to the slowdown of uptake in this age group.

"Access barriers likely play a role. Among other strategies, Virginia is expanding the number community vaccination and mobile clinics to make getting a vaccine easier," the report stated. "However, vaccine hesitancy is also an important factor. While surveys indicate that the greater majority of Americans, including Virginians, want to receive a vaccine, a sizeable minority are reluctant to do so."

As of Wednesday, 3,200,121 people have at least one vaccine dose in Virginia, or 37.5 percent of the population. There are 1,896,053 fully vaccinated people, or 22.2 percent of the population.

Virginians can register for the vaccine at vaccinate.virginia.gov. Residents of the Fairfax Health District (Fairfax County, towns of Vienna, Herndon and Clifton, and cities of Falls Church and Fairfax) register through the local health department.

Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause

On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, leading Virginia to temporarily suspend administering the J&J vaccine. The CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine. All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination, according to the statement.

The CDC also confirmed a Virginia woman's March death is being investigated in relation to potential adverse side effects from the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

More than 6.8 million doses of the single-dose vaccine have been administered in the United States.

The FDA and CDC, which addressed the J&J vaccine during a media call, said the pause will likely be a "matter of days." Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations are continuing in Virginia.

SEE ALSO:

• Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus Vaccine Use Paused In Virginia
• Death After J&J Vaccination May Have Been Virginia Woman: State
• VA Plans Vaccines For Children, Students Before Summer: Northam

COVID-19 data

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and positive average of tests continue to plateau. On Tuesday, 1,301 COVID-19 cases and four deaths were reported by VDH. Cases had been trending down from January to early March before becoming relatively stable. The seven-day daily case average is 1,579.

The seven-day average of positive PCR tests is stable at 6.1 percent as of April 10. An average of 17,832 PCR testing encounters are reported daily across the state.

COVID-19 hospitalizations stand at 1,059, which includes 265 in the intensive care units and 148 on ventilators. Ventilator use among all hospital patients is at 29 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 78 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Here are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Tuesday to Wednesday:

• Alexandria: 11,375 cases, 546 hospitalizations, 130 deaths; increase of 27 cases and one hospitalization
• Arlington County: 14,718 cases, 821 hospitalizations, 249 deaths; increase of 21 cases and four hospitalizations
• Fairfax County: 73,841 cases, 3,816 hospitalizations, 1,056 deaths; increase of 90 cases, 11 hospitalizations and one death
• Fairfax City: 534 cases, 46 hospitalizations, 18 deaths; increase of two cases
• Falls Church: 409 cases, 20 hospitalizations, nine deaths; increase of three cases
• Loudoun County: 26,430 cases, 985 hospitalizations, 273 deaths; increase of 51 cases and four hospitalizations
• Manassas: 4,246 cases, 169 hospitalizations, 45 deaths; increase of four cases
• Manassas Park: 1,179 cases, 68 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; increase of two cases
• Prince William County: 43,437 cases, 1,578 hospitalizations, 477 deaths; increase of 69 cases and one hospitalization
• Fredericksburg: 1,973 cases, 99 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of 12 cases and one hospitalization
• Spotsylvania County: 9,260 cases, 300 hospitalizations, 110 deaths; increase of 30 cases and one hospitalization
• Stafford County: 10,599 cases, 342 hospitalizations, 72 deaths; increase of 39 cases