Wyoming, New Mexico and South Dakota move to open vaccine eligibility



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Wyoming announced on Wednesday that residents aged 16 or older are now eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine in the state. New Mexico, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Washington and Kentucky also joined the race.

More than 40 states have now ramped up their vaccination efforts as health officials warn of a possible fourth outbreak of coronavirus cases.

“I want to take this opportunity and invite you to choose to get yourself vaccinated for free on Covid-19 as soon as possible,” Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota said in announcing her condition. expansion of eligibility.

Kentucky to make vaccine available to residents 16 and older on April 5 and in Washington will do the same on April 15.

“We are concerned about the trends that we are seeing statewide and we need to be careful,” Governor Jay Inslee of Washington said at a press conference on Wednesday. “Opening full eligibility will be a tool to help fight the virus.”

President Biden earlier this month called on states to open eligibility to all adults by May 1. On Monday, he ordered his coronavirus response team to ensure that by April 19, there would be a vaccination site within five miles of 90 percent of U.S. homes. .

The number of Americans, and especially black Americans, who have been vaccinated or want to be vaccinated has increased dramatically since January, according to a recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The investigation also found that Republicans and white evangelical Christians continue to be skeptical about getting a vaccine for the virus.

Ms Noem, a Republican who heads a Republican majority state, acknowledged the concerns on Wednesday.

“There will never be a heavy hand from the government that will force you to get the vaccine,” she said. “We will trust our employees to do the right thing.”



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