These people should up to 95% inoculated against getting the virus….
It will take over 100 million Americans getting their two shots to cut back Covid-19 infections to a manageable level…
Effort to expand the vaccine availability have expanded as the Trump admin closes out…
At least 151,000 people in the United States have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to a New York Times survey of all 50 states.
Both of the vaccines being used across the country require patients to receive two doses spaced weeks apart, so the process of administering second shots to Americans has only just begun.
The Times sent surveys to state health departments, as well as health officials for territories and federal agencies that have received vaccine allotments from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The tally of fully vaccinated people is an undercount because some states did not provide that information.
The C.D.C., which is not yet reporting the number of people nationally who have gotten a second shot, said on Friday that about 6.7 million people had received a first dose of a vaccine. That falls far short of the goal federal officials set to give at least 20 million people their first shots before the end of 2020.
On Friday, the transition team for President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. announced a plan to accelerate vaccinations that includes reversing course and releasing nearly all available doses. That would provide more people with first doses but raise the risk that second doses would not be administered on time; however, ramped up vaccine production is expected to keep enough in the pipeline for timely second doses. Officials from the Food and Drug Administration have spoken out strongly against changing the dosing schedule.
Despite the slower-than-expected rollout, many states have started broadening the pool of people eligible to receive vaccines. After initially focusing on health care workers and people who lived or worked in long-term care facilities, some states are now offering shots to older adults or to people who have other high-risk jobs.
Indiana started offering vaccines to anyone over age 80. West Virginia said teachers over age 50 were now eligible. And the United States Virgin Islands authorized grocery store workers, bus drivers and police officers to receive vaccines.
After frictions with the mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, New York’s governor, Andrew M. Cuomo, expanded the groups eligible for vaccines to include three million more people, including those 75 and older.
More states are expected to expand their vaccine programs in the coming days. On Monday, Michigan residents over age 65, as well as corrections workers and child care providers, are expected to begin receiving vaccines. Detroit’s health department said it would begin vaccinating at buildings for older residents and homeless shelters next week….