NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Almost two-thirds of New York state residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to new data.
Roughly 12.7 million of the state's 20 million residents are fully inoculated — placing the state seventh in the country when comparing the percent of vaccinated residents, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.
New York ranks below Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts and New Jersey, according to the data.
"The positive steps we've taken in the last few weeks are the clearest sign yet of New Yorkers' commitment to defeating this pandemic," Governor Hochul said in a Sunday statement on the state's vaccination efforts.
"Booster shots are underway, and we are laying the groundwork for getting our kids vaccinated pending final federal approval," she added. "But there is still more work to be done and New Yorkers must remain vigilant so that we move well on our way to realizing a post-COVID future."
The five boroughs boast some of the highest vaccination rates in the state, with Queens and Manhattan both reporting vaccinations rates at least 80% among eligible residents. Brooklyn is home to the lowest vaccination rate in the city, with 68.9% of residents vaccinated, according to the data.
The rising vaccination rates have come with a decrease in COVID-19-related deaths and hospitalizations. On Friday, Oct. 15, 5,248 people in New York state tested positive for the coronavirus, down from 19,942 who tested positive during the state's peak infectious period on Jan. 14, 2021.
The state also reported 2,115 COVID-related hospitalizations Friday, down from the peak of more than 9,000 in January.
Counties with the lowest vaccination rates are in western New York; Allegany County has reported the lowest vaccination rate among eligible residents, at 43%.
The neighboring county to Allegany's north, Wyoming County, has a similarly low rate of 51%, according to the data.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
