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Virginia Hits 70% Vaccination Milestone

Governor's Office Photo

Virginia hit President Biden’s July 4th vaccination goal with time to spare.

Outside a pharmacy in Richmond Monday morning, Gov. Ralph Northam announced 70% of Virginia adults have received at least one dose.

Northam said the impact is obvious.  "Our case numbers are the lowest they’ve been since the early days of the pandemic. So are our hospitalizations and our deaths.   Our percent positivity has dropped dramatically to less than 1.5 percent," Northam noted.  "The vaccines did this.  They and everyone who has worked and continues to work to get them into arms."

Northam said the state is now working to get closer to 100%, and focus on children as eligibility expands in the next few months.  But Northam said Virginia will not use big cash prizes, like some other states have done, to incentivize vaccination.  "We expect people to do the right thing," Northam said.

State vaccine coordinator, Dr. Danny Avula, credited the hard work of medical professionals and noted that just a few months ago they were struggling to find more vaccine and get the most out of every vial.  Now, he said, the work has changed.  "Reassuring patients.  Educating patients. Helping people understand why they still need to get vaccinated at this point."  Avula and Northam both said that work is esepcially important in communities where vaccination rates are below the state average.

Click here to read the full announcement

VIrginia is the 16th state to hit the 70% milestone.

David Seidel is Radio IQ's News Director.
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