In major setback, number of Pennsylvanians vaccinated against COVID-19 drops by a million

November 25, 2021

Pennsylvania on Wednesday said 68.8% of adult residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — far less than the 73.7% cited on Tuesday and numbers highlighted in news releases for weeks.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday “began to rectify their data to match Pennsylvania COVID-19 vaccine data and we anticipate the CDC to go through a similar process with other states across the country.”

That equals 1,076,911 adult Pennsylvanians who were believed to be fully vaccinated on Tuesday and who, as it turns out, are not.

The Department of Health said the change resulted from removing duplicate vaccination records and correcting data related to first, second and booster doses

DoH also reported 7,569 new COVID-19 infections, continuing an upward trend just as the holiday season begins and cold weather keeps people indoors where the virus spreads easier.  Statewide percent positivity for the week of Nov. 12 – Nov. 18 stood at 11.7%.

Pennsylvania hospitals were caring for 3,386 COVID-19 patients as of early Wednesday, another increase.

The statewide cumulative total cases is now 1,704,528, and 277,446 individuals who have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable cases.

The DoH reported 98 new COVID-19 deaths overnight, raising Pennsylvania’s pandemic toll to 33,101.  In licensed nursing and personal care homes, there have been a total of 67,776 resident cases of COVID-19 to date, and 49,520 cases among employees, for a total of 117,249 at 1,667 distinct facilities in all 67 counties.