DATA FROM PAST FIVE MONTHS SHOW “BREAKTHROUGH” DISEASE IN .17% OF FULLY VACCINATED ERIE COUNTY RESIDENTS

With these encouraging data and 69.3% of eligible adults having at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, ECDOH will shift vaccine outreach to mobile and pop-up vaccine sites

ERIE COUNTY, NY – The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is announcing the demobilization of its larger COVID-19 vaccination clinics at KeyBank Center, Erie Community College (ECC) North and ECC South.

“These sites were crucial in the first phase of vaccination operations to accommodate large numbers of people and meet that initial surge of COVID-19 vaccine demand,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “After extraordinary efforts from our department, pharmacies, community providers and pediatricians, 69.3% of adults age 18 and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in just six months. We are now shifting our focus to coordinate mobile and pop-up vaccine sites. ECDOH is also launching two expansive projects with community health workers and local resettlement and refugee services agencies to reach the hardest to reach residents with education and clinics.”  

Data and analysis from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) show 733 reported “breakthrough” COVID-19 cases among 429,439 fully vaccinated Erie County residents from January 18, 2021 until June 16, 2021. In other words, for every 10,000 vaccinated Erie County residents, 17 had a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result (0.17%). This is comparable to the estimated statewide breakthrough percentage of 0.15%.

“These NYSDOH data give us another piece of evidence that the available COVID-19 vaccines work and have a strong protective benefit for fully vaccinated people,” explained Dr. Burstein. “Intensive efforts to vaccinate as many Erie County residents as possible must continue, especially with the unpredictability of novel coronavirus variants. Also, children under 12 years old remain very vulnerable to infection because they are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccine.”

Beginning the week of June 27, COVID-19 vaccine will be available at ECC South’s Building 7 by appointment. ECDOH also offers COVID-19 vaccine by appointment at the Jesse Nash Health Center at 608 William Street in Buffalo. Call (716) 858-7687 to schedule at that location.

A complete schedule of mobile and pop-up clinics is updated regularly at www.erie.gov/vax. Appointments are suggested at these sites but walk-ins are welcome. Call (716) 858-2929 to schedule or to inquire about clinic locations.

ECDOH will also vaccinate any eligible Erie County resident at their home. Call (716) 858-2929 for the “Vax Visit” program.

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• ECDOH, COVID-19 vaccine info & clinic schedule: http://www.erie.gov/vax
• ECDOH, COVID-19 Information Line: (716) 858-2929 – foreign language interpretation available

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