City Of Philadelphia: City Provides Update On COVID-19 For Monday, August 23, 2021

Press release from the City of Philadelphia:

August 23, 2021

Acting Health Commissioner issues statement on US FDA full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Department of Public Health today reported an additional 10,970 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Philadelphia since last reported on Thursday, August 19. This brings the total number of fully vaccinated Philadelphians to at least 804,100, and the number of Philadelphians with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine to at least 982,754. Currently, 64.8 percent of Philadelphia adults are fully vaccinated, and 79.1 percent of Philadelphia adults have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

The Department of Public Health reports 190 patients with COVID-19 are currently being treated in Philadelphia hospitals, with a total of 22 on ventilators.

In the last two weeks, seven percent of COVID-19 tests in Philadelphia have come back positive. Thus far during the pandemic, 152,333 Philadelphians have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 3,797 have succumbed to the virus. Philadelphia is averaging 274 new cases of COVID-19 per day over the last two weeks.

“This morning, the US FDA granted full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole. “This is very exciting news because we know that there have been people waiting for full FDA approval to get vaccinated. With full approval from the FDA, this vaccine is now considered as safe as any other vaccine or drug on the market. We hope that this final bit of information will help convince even more Philadelphians to join the more than 800,000 Philadelphians who are already fully vaccinated and doing their part to protect our city from the pandemic.”

COVID-19 Resources:

• City’s COVID-19 homepage: phila.gov/covid-19.
• Frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 response.
• Greater Philadelphia Coronavirus Helpline: (215) 685-5488.
• Residents can text COVIDPHL to 888-777 to get updates sent to their phones.
• Residents can now set their own appointments to be vaccinated at City-run clinics.
• There are multiple public transit options to get to City-run clinics.
• COVID-19 testing is available for free at sites throughout Philadelphia.
• The COVID Prevention and Response Fund is accepting donations to aid nonprofits and individuals that are supporting their community through the pandemic.

Resources for Media:

• Recordings of COVID-19 briefings (Subtitles available in multiple languages).
• COVID-19 press releases.

This press release was produced by the City of Philadelphia.The views expressed here are the author’s own.