Sixty people are currently hospitalized in Vermont, the highest total since the start of the Delta surge and coming close to the all-time record of 65 hospitalizations, the Department of Health reported Friday.
Those hospitalizations include 12 people in intensive care units. Another person is hospitalized awaiting Covid testing results.
The department disclosed four more deaths in its data Friday. Thirty-five people have died so far in October, compared with 49 in September. In total, 364 people have died in Vermont since the beginning of the pandemic.
The state also reported 262 new cases, raising the seven-day average to 213 cases per day.
Vermont has generally reported fewer hospitalizations than most states, even as its case counts have been rising. Its seven-day average of eight hospitalizations per 100,000 people is the fifth-lowest state in the nation, according to New York Times data, and it is third-lowest for its death rate.
Officials have attributed the low hospital and death count to Vermont’s high vaccination rate, since research shows the vaccine protects against severe infections even better than it protects against getting infected in the first place.
As of Tuesday, Vermont ranked fourth in the nation for the percentage of its eligible population with at least one dose of the vaccine, behind Hawaii, Massachusetts and Connecticut. It remains first in the nation for its fully vaccinated population 65 and older.
Vermont also ranks second in the nation for the percentage of its population 65 and older with a booster dose, although only 27% have opted for a booster so far, the state reported Tuesday.
Older Vermonters continue to be the segment of the population with the highest hospitalization rate in the state, particularly Vermonters 70 and older. Federal data on breakthrough cases released this week shows that unvaccinated people 80 and older have been the hardest-hit demographic for deaths in the nation.
[Looking for data on breakthrough cases? See our reporting on the latest available statistics.]
The state also has recently announced clinics for vaccination or booster shots for the coming weeks, which include:
Saturday, Oct. 30
The Barton Fire Station, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (walk-in)
134 Main Street, Barton
The Orleans Fire Station, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (walk-in)
102 Main Street, Orleans
The Lunenburg Common, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (walk-in)
15 Park Avenue, Lunenburg
Canaan School Parking Lot, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (walk-in)
99 School Street, Canaan
Jay Peak Resort, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
830 Jay Peak Road, Jay
Green Mountain Mall, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
2000 Memorial Drive #14, St. Johnsbury
Northern Express Care, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
1 Eastern Avenue, St. Johnsbury
Sunday, Oct. 31
Newport a.m.bulance, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (walk-in)
830 Union Street, Newport
The Brighton Fire Rescue, 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (walk-in)
102 Railroad Street, Island Pond
Glover Town Green, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (walk-in)
Monday, Nov. 1
Elks Lodge, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
3736 U.S. Route 5, Derby
Green Mountain Mall, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
2000 Memorial Drive #14, St. Johnsbury
Tuesday, Nov. 2
Jay Peak Resort, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
830 Jay Peak Road, Jay
Hardwick Area Health Center, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
4 Slapp Hill, Hardwick
Island Pond Health & Dental Center, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
82 Maple Street, Island Pond
Northern Express Care, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
1 Eastern Avenue, St. Johnsbury
Northeastern VT Regional Hospital – COVID Operations Center, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1315 Hospital Drive, St. Johnsbury
Wednesday, Nov. 3
Green Mountain Mall, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
2000 Memorial Drive #14, St. Johnsbury
Hardwick Area Health Center, 7:30a.m. – 10:00a.m.
4 Slapp Hill, Hardwick
Thursday, Nov. 4
Green Mountain Mall, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
2000 Memorial Drive #14, St. Johnsbury
Hardwick Area Health Center, 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
4 Slapp Hill, Hardwick
Northern Express Care, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
1 Eastern Ave, St. Johnsbury
Friday, Nov. 5
Green Mountain Mall, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
2000 Memorial Drive #14, St. Johnsbury
Island Pond Health & Dental Center, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
82 Maple Street, Island Pond
Northern Express Care, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
1 Eastern Ave, St. Johnsbury
Saturday, Nov. 6
Green Mountain Mall, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
2000 Memorial Drive #14, St. Johnsbury
Northern Express Care, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
1 Eastern Ave, St. Johnsbury
