Members of the Board of Health are concerned that the vaccination rate for residents older than 75 is at a plateau, with about one out of four still unvaccinated.
“I think people are under the impression that all grandmas and grandpas are vaccinated,” commented Heidi Porter, director of the town Department of Health and Human Services.
Mark Waksmonski, the department’s community nurse who presented Covid-19 case and vaccination data during Monday’s meeting, said overall “we still have work to do.” Only the 12-16 and 17-29 age groups are growing, he said.
Answering a question from Board member Dr. Ann Kiessling, Waksmonski said he suspects the unvaccinated residents live independently rather than in long-term care or other group situations. “That’s a really at-risk group,” Kiessling said, expressing surprise at the percentage.
He added that the raw numbers may be a little high because the state Department of Public Health references a different population total for Bedford – almost 15,000 – than that used by the town. The state reports that 64 percent of all Bedford residents are fully vaccinated.
“We know there is upwards of 20 percent that is not going to get vaccinated,” Porter acknowledged. The age cohort with the highest rate is 65-74, around 80 percent.
Board member Maureen Richichi remarked that she hopes unvaccinated residents will be persuaded when they return to church or to other communal events that were suspended by pandemic precautions.
Waksmonski said the new weekly case count is three, including two in the same household. All local data look “consistent with state averages,” he said.
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
Loading ...
