PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Get your booster shot. That’s the message from Philadelphia’s acting health commissioner, who is hoping to avoid a fall COVID-19 surge.
Philadelphia continues to record high COVID-19 vaccination rates, as 87% of adults in the city have received at least one dose.
But new cases remain on a stubbornly high plateau. The city is averaging 255 per day, right around where they’ve been for the last month.
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Philadelphia Health Department Acting Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole said she believes the vaccines have kept the number from going up.
"Our worry had been that when kids went back to school, we would see a large surge. That really hasn’t happened, although our highest case rates are in people under the age of 20," said Dr. Bettigole.
Now, there's a new fear on the horizon.
"As we start to feel the fall chill in the air, people will soon be spending more time inside," she said.
Dr. Bettigole said vaccines will be crucial to preventing the kind of spike the city saw last year.
"Remember to mask up if you have to be in a crowded indoor space, together outside rather than inside if you have a choice, and to get your booster if you fall into one of the recommended groups," said Dr. Bettigole.
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The city has administered 32,000 boosters so far, a low percentage of those eligible.
Dr. Bettigole said the vaccine mandate for health care workers seems to be successful.
The final data isn’t in, but she said the city saw a steep increase in vaccines for long-term care workers.
Other health care workers have until Friday to get a first dose.