Topline
Nearly one in five American adults have received at least one coronavirus vaccine shot, but some states are immunizing their residents faster than others, partly because of varying eligibility rules, distribution systems and regional quirks:
Key Facts
No. 1: Alaska leads the country in vaccine distribution, giving at least one Pfizer or Moderna shot to 29.5% of adults as of Saturday, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures — some experts say Alaska is moving quickly partly because federal programs are helping to vaccinate the state’s large Indigenous and military populations.
Next best: New Mexico and South Dakota are second and third in the immunization race, at 27.7% and 26.7% respectively, a feat New Mexico officials link to their centralized signup portal and South Dakota officials credit to partnerships with the state’s few health providers.
The rest: 16 other states have vaccinated over 20% of their 18+ residents, including larger states like Arizona and Massachusetts and sparsely populated places like Wyoming.
California has immunized 19.6% of adults, slightly ahead of the nationwide pace.
Trailing: Six states have vaccination rates below 17%, including Texas, whose daily immunization figures fell by about two-thirds during last week’s winter storms, and New York, which is aiming to speed up its rollout by broadening eligibility.
The worst: Georgia is last in the nation, at just 15.5% of adults vaccinated, but Gov. Brian Kemp (R) says the state has opened more clinics to boost its capacity to put shots into arms.
Washington, D.C.’s vaccination rate is below any state’s, at 13.8%, but the city dramatically expanded its eligibility on Saturday.
Big Number
48.4 million. That’s how many Americans have received at least one coronavirus vaccine shot as of Saturday. About 49% of those people have received two shots of either Pfizer of Moderna’s drug, meaning they’re fully vaccinated.
Key Background
After a slow start in mid-December, the United States has typically averaged over 1.5 million vaccinations per day over the last two weeks, and federal officials are pushing to speed up manufacturing to meet surging demand. But while the federal government is in charge of purchasing vaccines, distributing doses to clinics and patients has largely fallen on state governments. As a result, eligibility rules vary widely from state to state, and strategies for opening up clinics and reaching vulnerable populations also differ. Plus, researchers say states with a high degree of economic inequality are struggling to reach poorer areas.
What To Watch For
Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine is expected to earn federal approval within the next few days, adding a third vaccine to the U.S. arsenal. Unlike Pfizer and Moderna, Johnson & Johnson’s drug only requires one shot, making distribution easier.
Further Reading
How some states are administering Covid-19 vaccines at twice the speed of others (CNN)
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February 28, 2021 at 05:31AM
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Almost 20% Of U.S. Adults Are Vaccinated. Here Are The Top-Performing States — And The Worst. - Forbes
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