Onondaga County Executive calls on more people in their 50s to get vaccinated

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon says those county residents between the ages of 50 and 59 need to do a better job of getting themselves vaccinated against COVID-19.

McMahon used his Thursday coronavirus briefing at the Oncenter to share age-group data on Onondaga County residents who have had a first and second dose of the vaccine.

Among the 50-59 age group, McMahon nearly 60 percent of county residents have received the first dose and just over 34 percent have received the second dose.

The percentages in that age group are lower compared to those in the 60-69, 70-79, and 80-and-above age cohorts.

McMahon said overall the county is doing well getting everyone vaccinated. “We just need to be better in these younger demographics,” he said. “Our 50 to 59 demographic — we need to do better.”

Here is the breakdown of share of the Onondaga County population that has been vaccinated by age group.

• Age 80 and over: 71.6 percent have received the first dose; 60.4 percent have gotten the second dose
• Age 70-79: 85.1 percent, first dose; 72.6 percent, second dose
• Age 60-69: 73.3 percent, first dose; 56.8 percent, second dose
• Age 50-59: 55.9 percent, first dose; 34.2 percent, second dose
• Age 40-49: 47.6 percent, first dose; 29.4 percent, second dose
• Age 30-39: 43.4 percent, first dose; 26.2 percent, second dose
• Age 20-29: 36.9 percent, first dose; 19.5 percent, second dose
• Age 16-19: 27.1 percent, first dose; 9 percent, second dose

McMahon noted that the youngest age group just became eligible for the shots. He also said that the 40-49 age group has not been eligible as long as the 50-59 demographic, yet is not far behind on vaccine uptake.

“This data is the best data we have right now for the county,” said McMahon. “It will evolve and change.”

Thursday virus data

McMahon also reported one additional death from COVID-19, a 74-year-old male, bringing the total Onondaga County death toll to 697.

The 7-day positive average is 1.5 percent; the daily positive rate during recent days was below the 7-day average, including 0.9 percent on Wednesday and 1.1 percent on Thursday.

“That’s a good trend. Let’s hope that continues to go that way,” said McMahon.

The county executive also reported 92 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the Onondaga County case count to 35,484 since March 2020.

The county currently has 715 active cases, and 54 people are currently hospitalized, including 11 in the intensive-care unit.