MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - If vaccine supplies are provided to Vermont as promised, all residents who want it can be fully vaccinated by the summer, allowing the state “to get back to normal” by July 4, Gov. Phil Scott said Tuesday.
Scott said at his twice-weekly virus briefing that he had received the assurance needed in a call with White House officials and other governors on vaccine supplies to soon outline the remaining schedule for vaccines so that all Vermonters are eligible by the end of April.
He said he will announce Friday the full schedule of the remaining vaccinations, including when the next age group, Vermonters aged 60 and older, can start making vaccine appointments.
“This doesn’t mean that everyone will be fully vaccinated by May 1; it just means they can sign up. That’s what the president had promised and that’s what we believe we can deliver on and possibly exceed,” the Republican governor said.
By July 4, there may still be guidelines for mask wearing, particularly for people who have not been vaccinated and other restrictions that the state is not currently aware of, Scott said, pointing out that it’s unclear when the border between the U.S. and Canada will open.
“A lot of what ifs,” he said about what he foresees by July 4, but “it’s almost like we’re back to where we were pre-pandemic, in terms of having businesses open and being able to freely travel throughout the United States.”
More than one in four adult Vermonters have received at least one vaccine dose, said Human Services Secretary Mike Smith.
“And we are seeing a slow but steady increase in vaccine manufacturing and a decrease in deaths from the virus. This is remarkable and really speaks to how we have been able to really stick together and move toward overcoming the most devastating public health crisis in more than a hundred years,” Smith said.
The greatest benefit that people should be watching for in vaccines is the efficacy in preventing serious illness, hospitalizations and death, said Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine.
The state has detected four more cases of a faster spreading UK virus variant, bringing the total to five, which should drive Vermonters to strongly adhere to prevention measures, Levine said. “Remember masks on faces, six-foot spaces, uncrowded places,” he said, while suggesting trying to get a better fit from a mask or wearing two masks, with details available on the CDC website.
“Or if you’re visiting somewhere with a lot of people, come back later when it’s less crowded,” Levine said. “And as always, if you don’t feel well, stay home.”
In other pandemic news:
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THE NUMBERS
Vermont reported 53 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, for a total of more than 17,000 since the pandemic began.
A total of of 24 people were hospitalized with three in intensive care. The state reported an additional death for a total of 215 to date.
Vermont cases continue to be reported in a fairly steady range - anywhere from 50-80 to 130-175 a day, Levine said.
“I’m focusing on the range of cases for a couple of reasons. One, because we know that one day’s report does not reflect a trend and two, because this has been and is expected to be the reality over the next several weeks before we see that drop towards the end of the month,” he said.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Vermont has risen over the past two weeks from 96.57 on Feb. 28 to 113.29 on March 14.
The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in Vermont did not increase over the past two weeks, going from 1 on Feb. 28 to 0.86 on March 14.
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