More states aim to offer Covid-19 vaccines to all ages 16 and over in the coming weeks

It only took McGee 20 minutes to get the shot. At 9:40 a.m., he was one of the youngest in Mississippi to be immunized with a dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

Pfizer / BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is licensed in the US for ages 16 and over, and Johnson & Johnson’s Moderna Covid-19 vaccine and Covid-19 vaccine are both licensed for adults 18 and over .

Alaska was the first state in the United States to stop prioritizing certain groups for Covid-19 vaccines and to open vaccination appointments for all people 16 years of age and older who live or work in the state.

McGee said he was surprised his state was the second, after Alaska, to open vaccinations to anyone 16 and older in the general public.

“There are a lot of negative stereotypes about the state, and I think some of them are for good reason – the state’s access to health care, the state’s poverty rate , his history of racism are all negative things that exist to this day, “McGee told CNN. “But expanding vaccine eligibility, I think, is one thing Mississippi can be celebrated for.”

A CNN analysis of state health services found that Covid-19 vaccination eligibility is expected to open to people 16 years of age and older in some states within the following time frame:

Connecticut and other states have used a phased rollout of Covid-19 vaccines due to “limited vaccine supply relative to demand,” Health Department spokesperson Maura Fitzgerald told CNN on Monday Connecticut Public.

“We started with frontline health workers and long term care facility residents / staff and then worked our way up through the age groups starting with our residents aged 75 and over.” Fitzgerald said, adding that last Friday the state opened up vaccinations to adults 45 and older and announced those 16 and older would become eligible on April 5.

“However, with the growing supply of vaccines from the federal government and the efficiency with which our vaccine suppliers are being shot, we have been able to accelerate our deployment,” said Fitzgerald.

Tom Hudachko, spokesperson for the Utah Department of Health, told CNN in an email on Tuesday that when demand begins to decline in priority groups – based on information from vaccine suppliers in terms of appointments -you available – then eligibility is open to additional populations. .

“Last week some of our providers reported that up to 15% of their appointments were available this week, so we made the decision to open up eligibility to 16 and over,” said Hudachko. “We also expect the supply to increase in the coming weeks, so this will also be taken into account.”

Why is there ‘variability’ in eligibility from state to state

There is variability in which states offer vaccines to all people 16 years of age and older, and which always prioritize groups, as there are differences between states in supply and demand.

“There is variability in how quickly states have opened up their eligibility and this is partly related to supply,” Plescia said.

For example, Plescia said that in some parts of the southeast the demand doesn’t seem quite as strong and some of those southern states can therefore open vaccinations every 16 years and faster than other northeastern or west coast states. where there is still a lot of demand.

“Some states kind of wanted to be more thorough in reaching a significant proportion of each group before opening it up to more groups,” Plescia said.

“So I think in some states they might actually spend time doing a little more outreach to, say, people over 65 before they open up more broadly,” he said. “While I think there are states where they’ve opened it up and the demands will stay with this group, but once the demand starts to slow down – rather than going out and really trying to recruit more than that. people – they ‘I just opened it. “

“In most states, it looks like we have the capacity to deliver the vaccine. It’s really just a supply issue,” Plescia said. “I guess with most states, the response to the Biden administration’s goal has basically been, ‘Okay, provide us with sufficient supply where we can meet the needs and we’ll be ready to do it. “So I think that’s ultimately going to be the deciding factor as to whether we really have – not an unlimited supply – but a dramatically increased supply where you can open it up and you know you won’t run out of vaccine.”

Meanwhile, McGee applauds his state of Mississippi for opening up vaccinations to the general public and he told CNN he is optimistic that President Joe Biden’s hope that all adults will be vaccinated by May 1 will become a reality.

“I think everything is going in the right direction,” he said.

“ Procurement drove this whole conversation ”

“Sourcing drove this whole conversation,” Benjamin said.

“The reason we set priorities in the first place was because we knew there would be insufficient supply at first, and then, of course, there was a desire to tackle inequalities in health – those two. things, to some extent, have led to the prioritization, “he said.” Ultimately the goal is to get everyone vaccinated and we shouldn’t neglect anything. “

Now, with Biden’s goal of opening vaccinations to everyone aged 16 and over by May 1, Benjamin said he expects more states to expand eligibility in the coming days. .

“I think you’re going to continue to see states opening up, trying to get ahead of that date – but that will totally depend on the vaccine supply,” Benjamin said.