Governor gets 1st dose of Moderna vaccine
Nearly 30 precent of the state’s population has received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, according to Sunday figures from the state’s vaccination tracker.
The Delaware Division of Public Health reported that 433,516 vaccine doses have been administered. More than 10,000 Delawareans received the COVID-19 vaccine at Dover International Speedway on Saturday and Sunday.
The figures indicate that Delaware is capable of vaccinating about one percent of its population each day when the Dover site is in operation.
Among those receiving their first dose of Moderna vaccine was Delaware Gov. John Carney. Carney, 64, had held off on getting vaccine, even though he would have qualified as an essential worker.
Business Insider (subscription) reported Carney was among 20 governors who had not received vaccine as of mid-March.
On Saturday, First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
The Crneys their vaccines at the Dover International Speedway event, organized by the Delaware Division of Public Health the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the Delaware National Guard (DNG).
The pace of vaccinations is accelerating as the state sees more variants that can spread faster than the original virus.
Delaware is now using various strategies, including mass vaccinations at Dover International Speedway and smaller unpublicized invitation-only events that include the developmentally disabled and others at greater risk of contracting the virus.
The state has kept some events low-key due to vaccine hunters who may show up in anticipation of getting leftover doses. Also getting vaccinations are restaurant and grocery staff, teachers, and others listed as essential workers.
Vaccinations are available for people over 50 as well as those with underlying health conditions. Family physicians classify those in the latter category. The state’s pharmacies are now taking appointments for those over 50, although their capacity to handle that large age group is limited.
To find out vaccination locations, see below (Some states may offer more information than others)
The Wilmington VA Medical Center began accepting walk-ins for vaccination events for veterans registered in its system, although it recommends appointments.
Delaware’s hospital systems have sign-up lists for those with underlying conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, compromised immune systems, smokers, and former smokers.
The state has been asked to make all adults eligible for vaccine by May 1 under guidance issued by the Biden-Harris Administration.
Delaware has been receiving 40,000 to 50,000 doses of vaccine a week and is expected to see that number increase in April and May as more Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccines are delivered.
Mass events with the J&J vaccine could quickly increase the percentage of those fully vaccinated since only one dose is required.
The vaccine tracker reports that about half of the 13,000 doses of J&J vaccine delivered in Delaware have been used.
The White House announced on Saturday that 11 million total doses of the J&J vaccine could be shipped next week. That could translate to 25,000 doses for Delaware.
As of Sunday, more than 89,000 doses were available as Delaware health officials deal with getting vaccines to vulnerable communities and the need to inoculate a larger percentage of the population.
The NPR vaccine tracker reported that Delware ranks slightly below the national average in the percentage of the population that has received at least one vaccine dose and above the national average when it comes to the percentage of residents who have received two doses.
The need to increase the percentage of vaccinated residents has grown as Delaware and other states see more variants of the vaccine that can spread more rapidly and be more resistant to vaccines.
