Record 524,155 shots given in last week

Rise seen in high-risk communities

More than 524,000 coronavirus vaccine doses were given across Massachusetts during the past week, smashing the record high for the third straight week as state health officials on Thursday again reported a weekly rise in the number of high-risk communities.

More than 4.2 million total doses of vaccine have been administered since the start of the state’s rollout, and 1,617,249 people are fully vaccinated, according to the daily vaccine report Thursday.

The state’s weekly vaccine report showed that 524,155 total doses have been administered since last week — a jump of 76,110 doses from the prior week’s record high mark of 448,045 shots. This increase comes as more residents became eligible for the vaccine this week.

Overall, the 4,204,152 total doses administered in the state breaks down to 2,586,903 people who have received one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine; 1,488,224 people who have received both doses of Pfizer or Moderna; and 129,025 people who have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Those figures represent a daily increase of 92,825 doses.

More than 5 million doses have been shipped to the Bay State, and more than 83% of total doses shipped to the state have been reported as administered.

Meanwhile, state health officials on Thursday reported eight new virus deaths and 1,938 new cases.

The number of estimated active cases across the state is now 35,149 — up from 25,397 two weeks ago. Cases have been spiking in recent weeks.

Thursday’s eight new virus deaths brings the state’s total confirmed death toll to 17,366.

Statewide hospitalizations have been dropping amid the state’s vaccine rollout but have ticked up recently. Hospitalizations on Thursday did drop by 20 patients, bringing the total to 735 patients.

A total of 978 staff and students in Massachusetts schools have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past week, according to the state’s tally on Thursday. This week’s count represents a decrease of 67 from last week’s record-high total of 1,045 cases.

The number of high-risk cities and towns rose for the fourth consecutive week, with 77 communities in the “red” zone this week. Cape Cod communities have been facing a major spike in cases.