Good news for the Harbor News area: newly released data from the health department reveals that the towns of Clinton, Westbrook, and Old Saybrook all have at least 75 percent of eligible citizens fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to the Connecticut River Area Health District (CRAHD), which serves the towns of Clinton, Old Saybrook, Deep River, Haddam, and Chester, as of Aug. 12 all three towns have gotten nearly 100 percent of residents ages 65 and over vaccinated against the virus. That age group in particular is especially vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19.

Old Saybrook led the way with 86 percent of eligible residents fully vaccinated against the virus. In raw numbers, that is 7,874 people fully vaccinated out of an eligible population of 9,155. The only age group below 80 fully percent vaccination in Old Saybrook is the 12- to 17-year-old age range. That age is also the most recent to become eligible for the vaccine; 62 percent of those residents are fully vaccinated (462 kids out of a population of 742.)

Clinton led the way in total number of residents fully vaccinated with 8,999 of the eligible 11,521 residents fully vaccinated. That translates to 78 percent of eligible residents. For Clinton, the area of concern is the 12– to 17 age range, in which about 64 percent of kids are fully vaccinated (609 0ut of 952) and the 25– to 44 age range in which 67 people are fully vaccinated (1,911 out of 2,863).

Westbrook’s numbers were consistently lower than Clinton and Old Saybrook. In Westbrook, of the 6,244 eligible residents, 4,677 are fully vaccinated, which translates to 75 percent. In Westbrook, only 48 percent of kids in the 12- to 17 age range were fully vaccinated (222 out of 474). For the ages of 18- to 24 and 25- to 44, the fully vaccinated percentage was 61 percent for both age groups. That means 313 out of 505 people in the 18- to 24 age range are fully vaccinated and 875 out of 1,431 people in the 25- to 44 range are fully vaccinated.

Across all three towns, 21,550 out of an eligible 26,920 are fully vaccinated for a rate of 80 percent. Out of the 2,168 kids in the 12- to 17 age range across three towns, 1,293 are vaccinated for a rate of 60 percent. The next-lowest population across all three towns is the 25– to 44 age range, where 69 percent of people are fully vaccinated (4,070 out of 5,879).

CRAHD Director of Health Scott Martinson said that CRAHD would continue to do work to reach the unvaccinated in the area.

“We have frequent meetings with the school [superintendents] in my area. We have them frequently messaging parents and students regarding the importance of vaccinations,” said Martinson. “We also have private consuls available with our public health nurse. Families or individuals can discuss their hesitancy with her.”

After a period of decline, cases of COVID are once again on the rise in the area. A message from Martinson on the CRAHD website states, “Throughout CRAHD and Connecticut we have made spectacular progress battling this global pandemic. Vaccinations are currently the most powerful weapon we have against this deadly virus. The CRAHD strongly encourages all eligible individuals to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.”

Martinson said that pertinent information is updated and posted to the CRAHD website at www.crahd.info.

All Connecticut residents ages 12 and older are eligible to receive the vaccine. Available appointments can be found at portal.ct.gov/Vaccine-Portal.