More than 3.5 million Pennsylvanians are fully vaccinated, and the number of people getting their first doses keeps increasing rapidly.

This is great to hear, but there’s still a ways to go in the battle against COVID-19.

The state Department of Health is urging college students to get vaccinated before they return home for summer break.

That’s a good area of focus.

The number of cases continues to rise. There were 128 new cases in the county from the weekend through Monday and 7,481 additional cases statewide, and there are still state residents being hospitalized with serious cases of the virus, although that number is slowly dropping.

So, it makes sense that college students — who are more likely to fraternize with others during the pandemic and likely have more exposure to others than many adults — would be an area of focus to ensure that another spike in COVID-19 cases doesn’t occur.

A number of colleges across the nation are even requiring students to get vaccinated before the fall semester begins.

Some may object to getting vaccinated for valid reasons, such as people who have severe allergic reactions. But college students who do not face such circumstances and intend to get vaccinated shouldn’t delay.

For the most part, younger people are less likely to be at risk of severe cases of COVID-19, which can create a false sense of complacency. However, the people to whom they could be spreading germs — parents, grandparents and other relatives or friends — upon their return home from college are possibly much more at risk.

The Butler Health System is allowing anyone age 16 or older to get vaccinated. Those who intend to do so but haven’t yet should get vaccinated. There’s no time like the present, especially in the face of a once-in-a-century pandemic.

Protect yourself, but also your family and those around you who might be more vulnerable than you.

And please continue to wear your mask and engage in safety practices recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Others are affected by your actions and are depending on your diligence.

— NCD