Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
This page offers all of Delaware Public Media's ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak and how it is affecting the First State. Check here regularly for the latest new and information.

Pharmacies performing most vaccinations as demand declines

Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

Spread of COVID-19 remains low in Delaware as the state nears a 70 percent first dose vaccination rate. 

The total number of vaccinations administered statewide has passed the 1 million mark and 69.8 percent of all adult Delawareans have received at least one shot. 

Delaware pharmacies are taking the reins of the COVID vaccination effort in the state. Officials say at the height of vaccination demand in April, pharmacies were performing about a third of all vaccinations. But now as demand lessens, they are handling about 70 percent of the shots statewide.

Still, Delaware Emergency Management Agency Director AJ Schall says state and local governments will continue holding community events - despite low turnout.

“We’re still going to be in the community,” said Schall Tuesday. “It’s going to be events like this. It’s not going to pull in hundreds of people, but the people it pulls in are the ones that are just as important to us and we want to make sure they have the access as well.”           

Meanwhile, both the average number of new cases of the virus per day and the number of resulting hospitalizations in the state are below 20. 

But state Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay says she’s still concerned about the spread of variant strains of the virus among Delaware’s unvaccinated population. 

“None of us want to go backwards,” said Rattay. “None of us want to go backwards and shut anything down and mandate mask wearing again and putting some of the other restrictions in place. It adds, really, to our plea for people to get vaccinated.”           

The Alpha, or UK, variant continues to be by far the most prevalent in Delaware with more than 900 cases found among a swath of COVID cases tested. 

State officials held their final COVID-19 press conference Tuesday. The state’s vaccine incentive program ends this weekend and Delaware’s COVID-19 State of Emergency Order is set to be lifted July 13.

Related Content