US reports highest weekly COVID-19 vaccinations since July 4

There were over 7 million shots in the past week, an official said Saturday.

ByEmily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: October 4, 2021, 10:24 AM EDT

The United States has been facing a COVID-19 surge as the more contagious delta variant continues to spread.

More than 712,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.8 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Just 66% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the CDC.

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Oct 04, 2021, 10:24 AM EDT

NYC public school employees must now be vaccinated

All New York City public school employees must now be vaccinated or risk losing their jobs.

A girl passes a "Welcome Back to School" sign as she arrives for the first day of class at Brooklyn's PS 245 elementary school, Sept. 13, 2021, in New York.
Mark Lennihan/AP, FILE

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that 95% of full-time employees are now vaccinated, including 96% of teachers and 99% of principals.

"It clearly works," the mayor said of the mandate, which went into effect at 5 p.m. Friday.

Schools Chancellor Misha Porter said 18,000 new shots were given out since Friday. She said unvaccinated employees can still get their shots and return to work.

Protesting teachers will march across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall for a rally Monday afternoon.

-ABC News' Aaron Katersky

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