Mississippi is the second state to open up vaccines for all residents 16 and up. Here’s what other states are doing
With Covid-19 vaccination production and distribution ramping up in the United States, more states are expanding who is eligible to be inoculated.
On Tuesday, Mississippi is following Alaska’s lead and becoming the second state to open vaccination appointments to all residents 16 years and older, Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday.
“Starting tomorrow, ALL new appointments will be open to ALL Mississippians. Get your shot friends – and let’s get back to normal!” he tweeted Monday.
Officials are racing to get Americans vaccinated and manage the pandemic before variants can dominate the cases spreading around the country.
President Joe Biden has called for all American adults to be eligible for vaccines by May 1, but some are planning to expand who can be inoculated earlier.
Here is where each state stands:
Alabama
Beginning March 22, all residents 55 and older, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, critical workers and people with high-risk medical conditions will be added to eligible for vaccinations, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Alaska
On March 9, Alaska became the first state to eliminate all other eligibility requirements. Everyone living and working in the state is now eligible for vaccination, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said.
Arizona
All residents 45 and older will be able to be vaccinated beginning April 1, Gov. Doug Ducey told CNN affiliate KPNX. For now, eligibility ranges by county according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Arkansas
As of Tuesday, groups in Phase 1C of Arkansas’ vaccine rollout plan — which includes people ages 16-64 with some underlying health conditions, people who live in high-risk settings and essential workers in a range of industries — can receive vaccines, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said.
California
The state expanded vaccine eligibility Monday to include adults in congregate facilities, including immigrants in detention centers, as well as those with certain health conditions.
Colorado
Colorado will add 2.5 million more people eligible for vaccines Friday by expanding access to residents 50 and older as well as those with high-risk conditions, Gov. Jared Polis said.
Connecticut
On Friday, appointments for vaccinations will open to residents ages 45 to 54, and by April 5, the state expects to expand to all of those 16 and older, a press release from Gov. Ned Lamont’s office said Monday.
Delaware
While the state is pushing to vaccinate residents 65 and older as well as frontline essential workers, pharmacies can vaccinate anyone in the state 50 or older and doctors can vaccinate anyone with high or moderate-risk medical conditions, according to a statement Tuesday.
Florida
Florida expanded vaccine eligibility Monday to adults 60 and up, Gov. Ron DeSantis said. The age will be lowered to 55 “in due time,” DeSantis said, but the timing will depend on how quickly people over 60 are vaccinated.
Georgia
All adults with high-risk health conditions and those 55 and older became eligible for vaccinations Monday. Gov. Brian Kemp said that at least 5 million Georgians are eligible to receive their vaccines and should take advantage of the opportunity in order to return to some normalcy.
Hawaii
This week, Hawaii residents 65 and older and those on dialysis, with severe respiratory disease and those undergoing chemotherapy joined the list of people who can be vaccinated, according to the state’s Covid-19 portal.
Idaho
The state opened vaccinations to people 55 and older with at least one medical condition Monday. On March 22, everyone 55 and over will be eligible, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Illinois
Those eligible for vaccines include health care workers and residents of long-term facilities, people older than 65 and non-health care frontline essential workers, the Illinois Department of Public Health said.
Indiana
Indiana added teachers, childcare workers, and people with several high-risk comorbidities Monday to the list of those eligible for vaccinations, said Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer with the state’s Department of Health. Weaver said the state plans to incrementally expand vaccine eligibility to the 40 to 49 age group next “as quickly as supplies permit.”
Iowa
People 65 and older and those 16 to 64 who have medical conditions that might put them at an increased risk for severe illness are being prioritized I the state for vaccination, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Kansas
Next week, eligibility will expand to include residents 16 – 64 with medical risks and critical workers in an effort to move to final vaccination stages by May 1, Gov. Laura Kelly said in a tweet.
Kentucky
Starting Monday, all essential workers and anyone 16 and up with “CDC approved underlying health conditions,” became eligible, according to Kentucky Public Health.
Louisiana
Louisiana has expanded eligibility to include people 18 – 64 who have health conditions that may result in a higher risk of disease, health care workers, law enforcement, teachers and state legislators, according to Louisiana Department of Health.
Maine
This month, Maine began vaccinating those 60 and older and by April 1 the group will expand to include those 50 and older and all adults will have access by May 1, according to the state’s dashboard.
Maryland
The state is currently in Phase 1C. In addition to those already eligible in earlier phases, adults 65-74, essential workers in lab services, agriculture, manufacturing, and the postal service are now able to receive vaccines, according to the Maryland Department of Health.
Massachusetts
People over 65, healthcare workers, first responders and educators are among those currently able to be inoculated, officials said.
Michigan
All residents 16 and up will be eligible for inoculations starting April 5, according to a statement from the State’s Emergency Operations Center.
Minnesota
Through March and April, Minnesotans with some underlying medical conditions, frontline essential workers and people over 50 years old living in multigenerational housing are eligible for vaccines, according to the state’s vaccination plan. The state is not scheduled to vaccinate the general population until the summer.
Mississippi
All residents 16 and older can make vaccination appointments. Gov. Tate Reeves said there will be around 10,000 appointments available over the next three weeks and encouraged those over the age of 50 to “lock them down.”
Missouri
More of “those who keep the essential functions of society running” became eligible for vaccines Monday when the state activated Phase 1B – Tier 3, which includes teachers, grocery store employees, elected officials and those who work in energy, Gov. Mike Parson said.
Montana
On April 1, all Montanans 16 years and older will be eligible for vaccination, Gov. Greg Gianforte said Tuesday. People 60 and older and those 16 and up with a wider range of medical conditions became eligible last week, the state said.
Nebraska
Starting in April, Nebraska plans to begin vaccinating all residents over 50, with people over 16 scheduled for May, according to the state’s tentative timeline.
Nevada
Each county in Nevada has its own distribution plan and will expand eligibility depending on how quickly they move through populations, according to Immunize Nevada.
New Hampshire
Currently vaccinating residents in Phase 1 of the New Hampshire vaccination plan, the state’s next phase will include at-risk staff in K-12 schools, licensed childcare facilities and youth camps.
New Jersey
As of Monday, those eligible included health care workers, residents of congregate facilities, first responders, school staff, transportation workers, people over 65 and those 16 and up with medical conditions that increase their risk, the state said on its Covid dashboard.
New Mexico
New Mexico is currently vaccinating at-risk groups, including people over 75 years old, hospital employees, medical first responders, congregate setting workers, people over 16 with risk of complications and school staff, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.
New York
Along with essential workers, educators and first responders, residents 60 and older are included in those able to receive the vaccine, according to the Phased Distribution plan.
North Carolina
The state is currently vaccinating health care workers and long-term care staff and residents, anyone 65 or older and frontline essential workers, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
North Dakota
North Dakota is expanding Phase 1C of the state’s distribution plan to include groups such as essential workers and people 16 and over with underlying health conditions, the North Dakota Department of Health said on Twitter last week.
Ohio
Ohio will offer vaccinations to anyone 40 and older starting Friday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday. And on March 29, he promised those eligible would expand to include anyone over the age of 16.
Oklahoma
As part of Phase 3, Oklahoma has added students and staff “in educational settings outside of PreK-12 and critical infrastructure personnel,” the state Department of Health said. Native tribes opened Covid-19 vaccine appointments to all Oklahoma residents Tuesday.
Oregon
Beginning March 29, Oregon officials will extend vaccine eligibility to those 45 and older with underlying conditions, migrant agricultural workers, wildland firefighters, and pregnant women 16 and older, Gov. Kate Brown said.
Pennsylvania
The state is currently vaccinating people in its Phase 1A, which includes health care workers, residents 65 and older and those 16 and up with high-risk conditions, according to Pennsylvania’s Department of Health. The state also has a special initiative to provide the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine for Pre-K-12 teachers, child care workers and other school staff.
Rhode Island
Along with school staff, those working and living in congregate homes and healthcare workers, those who can get vaccinated include adults 60 and older and those 16 and up with underlying medical conditions, according to the state’s Department of Health.
South Carolina
Starting last week, the state advanced to Phase 1b, which includes those 55 and up, people with increased risk and frontline workers, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
South Dakota
Last week, eligible residents expanded to include people 65 and older, high-risk patients, high-risk residents in congregate settings, people with underlying medical conditions, school staff and funeral service workers, according to the state’s Department of Health.
Tennessee
On Sunday, Tennessee announced that people who are pregnant joined the list of those eligible, according to the state’s Department of Health.
Texas
This week, those eligible include people 50 years old and up, the Department of State Health Services said.
Utah
All residents will be eligible for the vaccine beginning April 1, the state said.
Vermont
People 65 and older, those 16 and older with high-risk conditions, school staff, people in immigrant communities and Black, Indigenous and people of color are being vaccinated, the state’s Department of Health said.
Virginia
Health care personnel, long-term care residents, frontline workers, people 65 and older and people 16 and older with underlying medical conditions are currently eligible, the state’s Department of Health said.
Washington
Starting Wednesday, everyone in Tier 2 will be able to get vaccinated. The tier includes workers in agriculture, food processing, grocery stores, public transit, firefighters and law enforcement and people over the age of 16 who are pregnant or have a disability that puts them at high-risk.
West Virginia
Inoculations have been expanded to residents 16 and older who suffer from preexisting conditions including diabetes, heart disease and asthma, Gov. Jim Justice said. Residents 50 and over and education workers 40-50 years old are already eligible.
Wisconsin
Last week, the Department of Health Services expanded eligibility to people 16 and older with some medical conditions as of March 29.
