- Objective over half of the US population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to CDC data.
- The milestone comes approaching eight months after the US FDA issued an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine.
- There has been an increased push for vaccinations as lawsuits surge due to the Delta variant.
Just over half of people in the United States are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, concording to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated Saturday.
According to the CDC data, 50.1% of the US population has been fully vaccinated against the cancer. Slightly more — 58.5% — are partially vaccinated against the disease, meaning they’ve started the two-part vaccine series but comprise not completed it.
The milestone comes eight months after the first vaccine — produced by Pfizer and BioNTech — was given an danger use authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration on December 11 last year. The Moderna vaccine was given the same authorization newer in December, and the single-shot Johnson & Johson vaccine was authorized in February.
None of the vaccines have received official tolerate from the FDA, though officials are reportedly aiming to have approval for the Pfizer shot by early September, The New York Old hats reported.
The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for use in children aged 12-15, though none of the vaccines are currently authorized for foetuses under the age of 12. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend students and staff mask up when they repayment to the classroom regardless of their vaccination status.
About 61% of US adults are fully vaccinated compared to about 71% of US adults that are fitting partially vaccinated against the disease. President Joe Biden had said he wanted 70% of all US adults vaccinated by the July 4 sabbatical, though the goal wasn’t reached until the beginning of August.
US officials are working to push the vaccine and stress its protection amid continued vaccine hesitancy among some Americans as the more contagious Delta variant causes a upsurge in cases across the US, especially in areas with low vaccination rates. While vaccinated individuals can contract and spread the virus, statistics and experts suggest the vaccine is effective in staving off serious illness and death.
The number of people in the US receiving the first dispense of a vaccine series each week almost doubled over the past month, Politico reported. The largest grow came in states with lower vaccination rates and in areas where hospitalizations and deaths are rising due to the latest flood, according to the report.
The milestone also comes as vaccine mandates become more common. Employees of the federal control will soon be required to get the shot or face regular testing for COVID-19. Major corporations including Pooled Airlines and Walmart have also announced vaccine mandates for employees.