The world's COVID-19 vaccination rate has surpassed Tuolumne.

Key Takeaways:

• Residents of Tuolumne and Calaveras counties now have a higher percentage of the world's population immunized against COVID-19.
• Calaveras County had an even lower vaccination rate, with 53.4 percent fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.
• Until the program's funding runs out, Calaveras County residents will be eligible for up to two $90 gift cards at select locations.

As demand for the shots declines across the United States, a higher percentage of the world's population is now immunized against COVID-19 than residents of Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.

According to Our Globe in Data, a UK-based nonprofit that compiles vaccination data reported by countries, the percentage of the world's total population that is fully vaccinated surpassed 55.4 percent on Thursday.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, 55.3 percent of Tuolumne County's overall population was fully vaccinated as of Friday, including children under the age of 5 who aren't eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the CDC data, Calaveras County had an even lower vaccination rate, with 53.4 percent fully vaccinated.

Out of California's 58 counties, Tuolumne County had the seventh-highest seven-day case rate per 100,000 residents, at 357.94. Marin County had the second-lowest seven-day case rate at 116.68, despite having the highest percentage of the total population fully immunized at 87.8%.

According to the CDC, just over 70% of all Californians were fully immunized as of Friday.

Given the head begin that Tuolumne and Calaveras counties had with an earlier rollout and greater supply than many other places around the world, such as developing countries, the world catching up on immunization s notable.

In early August, about 2 months after everyone 18 and older in the United States became eligible for the shots, more than 23,600 Tuolumne County residents were fully vaccinated, representing more than 43 percent of the total population, while the world had yet to reach 15 percent.

Although only about half of all Americans are fully vaccinated, many locations across the country are reporting a drop in demand for the vaccines as the omicron wave subsides, as well as governments lift COVID-19 safety measures.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared on Friday that he would soon revoke a series of orders he issued throughout the pandemic. However, the state of emergency he declared in March 2020 will remain in effect.

Newsom can use the emergency declaration to issue orders related to the state's COVID-19 response and powers to override state law that he wouldn't have otherwise.

Meanwhile, local governments in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties are providing or increasing incentives to encourage residents to get vaccinated.

Calaveras County's public health division announced on Thursday that residents 5 and older who received or would obtain a COVID-19 vaccination among July 11 last year and April 300 this year will receive a $45 gift card for each shot received, including a booster, among July 11 last year and April 300 this year.

In the announcement about the incentive program, Calaveras County Health Officer Dr. René Ramirez said, "Our community is immunized at nearly 17 percentage points lower than the state rate." "We must do everything possible to raise the community's COVID-19 vaccination rate... To overcome this pandemic, we will need the help of our entire community."

Calaveras County residents will be suitable for up to two $90 gift cards at select locations until the program's funding runs out. Anyone interested in taking advantage must present identification, a vaccination card, and proof of residency. A parent or guardian must accompany those under the age of 18.

The program is similar to one launched earlier this month in Tuolumne and Amador counties, which offers VISA gift cards to anyone who gets their first shot and is vaccinated between January 11 and April 300.

According to the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency, which administers the program funded by the Oakland-based Public Health Institute, it recently got approval to raise the incentive from $50 to $100 per shot for a maximum of two Kristy Moore, communications manager.

Parents and guardians of children aged 5 and up who are eligible for vaccination will also receive a card if their child receives a vaccination. The goal, according to Moore, is to raise the vaccination rate between children and young adults, which is where Tuolumne County lags the most.

"It appears to me that there are younger adults who received the Johnson and Johnson (vaccine) or a second shot but didn't think they needed a booster, so this could help," she said.

Moore said there hadn't been much demand in the first few weeks since the program began, but he hopes the increased amount will change that.

As the numbers show, places with higher vaccination rates also tend to have lower case rates. Despite widespread misinformation, vaccines are safe and effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death.

Moore stated, "There are so many more people who are immunocompromised as well as can't get back to their lives." "There are still a lot of senior citizens, parents with children, who are unable to return to their lives." "As more people get immunized, we get closer to a pre-COVID way of life."