“Quit while you’re ahead” is an often-used phrase.

In the case of news last week from the state’s Department of Health, it’s not applicable.

On Thursday, Butler County was listed sixth out of 67 counties in having the highest number of fully vaccinated individuals per 100,000 residents. Approximately 47.6% of the county’s population has received both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or the J&J vaccine’s single dose.

The only county in the region to have a higher rate was Allegheny County at 50.8%. Butler’s numbers were higher than Armstrong County by several percentage points, and significantly higher than Mercer, Venango, Clarion, Beaver and Lawrence counties.

Also, on Thursday, Butler Memorial Hospital reported zero COVID-19 cases.

So, Butler County, congratulations on a job well done — so far. But the work is not finished.

Karen Allen, chief nursing officer at Butler Health System, said the health system is reaching out to school superintendents around the county to try to get youths over age 12 vaccinated. Allen said the county’s numbers are encouraging, but still not enough to possibly fend off the new delta variant of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The delta variant numbers continue to grow in the U.S., and currently the vaccine has been effective against it,” she said. “If we don’t have 70% (of the population vaccinated), the delta variant might go through the unvaccinated population and mutate into something that can go through the vaccine.”

Let’s not come this far, having made so much progress, only to see a regression.

Chances are, most of those who have yet to be vaccinated are eligible. There are valid reasons for not getting a vaccination — such as a severe allergic reaction — but many of the fears people have about getting a dose are unfounded.

BHS is shifting some resources toward educating the public — especially those who are not vaccinated — and this is a good idea. For example, Allen said some who are considering having children are concerned about getting a dose; however, she noted that doctors say such people would be safe doing so.

In May, statistics were released on those who have been hospitalized in 2021 due to COVID-19. More than 99% of them had not been vaccinated.

Ideally, we’d love to see everyone who is eligible get vaccinated. In the meantime, we hope the county keeps spreading information to the holdouts, so that we can at least get to that desired 70%.

— NCD