There’s a fair amount of good news this week regarding vaccination rates and how Pennsylvania is doing compared with other states in the battle against COVID-19.

Although nine other states have higher vaccination rates among adults — Vermont has the best record in the nation, while Hawaii, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are not far behind — the Keystone State is among eight that are nearing the 70% adult vaccination rate goal that has been set by the federal government.

Overall, only 41% percent of Pennsylvanians have been fully vaccinated, but like most other states, that rate is lowered by the fact that only recently vaccination for youths is becoming more commonplace.

Also, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and marketing firm Sykes recognized Pennsylvania for its COVID-19 efforts. The CDC ranked the state fifth for the total number of vaccine doses administered, while Sykes ranked it fifth in overall response based on vaccine distribution, positivity rates and hospital admissions.

That’s all great news.

However, only about 39% of the total U.S. population has been vaccinated — although the number of adults having received two doses is higher and getting closer to the 70% benchmark.

Health experts say that’s still not enough to stop the pandemic, and Pennsylvania is now seeing a rise in the number of cases among people age 49 and younger.

While the good news is that the virus is typically less severe in people in lower age ranges, they can still spread COVID-19 to older family members and friends who have still not been vaccinated or are unable to do so for various health reasons.

So, while it’s great to see mask mandates lifted for those who are fully vaccinated and trips to public places have more of a sense of normalcy about them, there are those among us who are still at risk — some by choice if they chose not to get vaccinated or just haven’t yet gotten their doses, and others who cannot get vaccinated because of allergic reactions or other reasons.

So, while the state should continue to do its part to get as many people vaccinated as possible, it’s up to all of us to continue considering the safety of others. If you’re around someone who is more vulnerable, wear your mask and wash your hands.

We’re making strides in the fight against COVID-19. Keep it up until we’ve crossed the finish line.

— NCD