New Hampshire is one of six states where more than 70% of adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, but the rate of vaccinations is starting to slow down.All of the states at 70% or more are in New England, except for Hawaii. Health officials said it’s essential that more people get vaccinated to bring the pandemic to an end.”The number and the percentage of people who are receiving at least one dose of the vaccine is starting to slow,” said Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist.The number of people in New Hampshire receiving their second dose is still increasing, and the state is still requesting its full allocation of vaccine from the federal government.”We don’t believe that this virus is magically going to go away,” Chan said. “It’s going to be with us for many months or even years to come.”Health officials said 66% of age-eligible people in the state have gotten at least one dose. Officials said they want to see that number go as high as possible.Dr. Michael Calderwood, an infectious disease specialist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, said some people might still have challenges when it comes to booking an appointment or getting to a vaccine site.Calderwood said the vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective, but some people still might be hesitating.”I think we can get a lot of people over their concerns if they are actually directed to the true data, rather than what they are seeing on social media,” Calderwood said.He’s encouraging the younger population to consider getting the vaccine in the weeks ahead.”Even if they are not hospitalized, the number of people with long-term symptoms even after they recover is going to take us years to address,” he said.Health officials said anyone who has concerns about the vaccine should have a conversation with someone they trust.
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
New Hampshire is one of six states where more than 70% of adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, but the rate of vaccinations is starting to slow down.
All of the states at 70% or more are in New England, except for Hawaii. Health officials said it’s essential that more people get vaccinated to bring the pandemic to an end.
“The number and the percentage of people who are receiving at least one dose of the vaccine is starting to slow,” said Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist.
The number of people in New Hampshire receiving their second dose is still increasing, and the state is still requesting its full allocation of vaccine from the federal government.
“We don’t believe that this virus is magically going to go away,” Chan said. “It’s going to be with us for many months or even years to come.”
Health officials said 66% of age-eligible people in the state have gotten at least one dose. Officials said they want to see that number go as high as possible.
Dr. Michael Calderwood, an infectious disease specialist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, said some people might still have challenges when it comes to booking an appointment or getting to a vaccine site.
Calderwood said the vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective, but some people still might be hesitating.
“I think we can get a lot of people over their concerns if they are actually directed to the true data, rather than what they are seeing on social media,” Calderwood said.
He’s encouraging the younger population to consider getting the vaccine in the weeks ahead.
“Even if they are not hospitalized, the number of people with long-term symptoms even after they recover is going to take us years to address,” he said.
Health officials said anyone who has concerns about the vaccine should have a conversation with someone they trust.