COVID-19 UPDATE: 43% OF ERIE COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF COVID-19 VACCINE

A survey of contact tracing interviews shows 98% of last week’s new COVID-19 cases were not fully immunized

Genetic sequencing of Erie County resident samples continues to detect variants of concern

ERIE COUNTY, NY – The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is providing an update with COVID-19 case investigation findings, information about variants of concern, and COVID-19 vaccinations administered to date.

COVID-19 Case Investigations

From COVID-19 contact tracing interviews completed for the week ending April 10, 17% of newly diagnosed COVID-19 positive people who were contacted reported having received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and only 2% of people contacted reported that they were fully immunized.

“Despite the increase in new daily COVID-19 cases, this finding from case investigations is part of a positive trend,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “This set of interviews indicates that COVID-19 vaccination is working to prevent positive COVID-19 cases and illness. There is still a large part of Erie County’s population, including children under age 16, who are susceptible to COVID-19 infection. Vaccination is a powerful tool to prevent the spread of this disease and it is heartening to see our coverage rates increase each week.”

COVID-19 Variants of Concern

Genetic sequencing by the Genomics and Bioinformatics Core in the University at Buffalo Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences detected several variants of concern in samples from Erie County residents this week. These included B.1.1.7 “United Kingdom,” B.1.427 “California,” and B.1.351 “South Africa.” Two of the B.1.1.7 samples were taken from a fully vaccinated individual.

“While no vaccine is 100% protective, Erie County hospitals report that none of their current COVID-19 admissions have been fully vaccinated. We have to keep in mind that the clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance show that the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are very effective at preventing moderate and serious illness,” continued Dr. Burstein. “With vaccination and continued public health preventive measures, we can reduce the burden of this disease in our community, both in terms of transmission and severity of illness, hospitalizations and deaths.”

COVID-19 Vaccinations

Based on information provided by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). As of April 15, 43% of Erie County residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 30% percent have completed the COVID-19 vaccine series.

52% of eligible Erie County residents ages 16 and older⁺ have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 36% of eligible Erie County residents age 16 and older have completed the COVID-19 dose series.

Through April 15, ECDOH administered 57,676 first doses and 40,251 second doses at county-run PODs (points of distribution). This includes first-doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered at Erie County’s first-ever drive-thru pop-up POD at the Eden Corn Festival grounds and the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation Volunteer Fire Department with the Seneca Nation.

Current total of vaccinated Erie County residents by first and second dose:

*Second dose totals not available for 1/29/2021
**Includes J&J vaccine, one-dose

⁺ 754,721 Erie County residents are age 16 or older (estimate)

Chart percentages based on an estimated 2019 Erie County population of 918,702.

ECDOH intends to provide weekly updates with this information for the public.

Vaccinations by ZIP code through April 10 are posted to the ECDOH web site, and ECDOH provides updates on Tuesdays.

#

• Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH), COVID-19: http://www.erie.gov/covid19
• ECDOH, COVID-19 Information Line: (716) 858-2929 – foreign language interpretation available
• New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Vaccination Hotline: (833) 697-4829 (833-NYS-4VAX)
• NYSDOH Vaccine Tracker: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/covid-19-vaccine-tracker

###