Topline
Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Rochelle Walensky warned Thursday they’re worried about Covid-19 surges in states with lower vaccination rates even as the national rate continues to increase—here are the states with the lowest percentage of people vaccinated that could face the biggest risk:
Lary Dolley receives the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine during a vaccine event at The Howling Wolf, a ... [+]
Key Facts
According to public health data compiled by Bloomberg, there are still 29 states in which less than 50% of their total population has received at least one vaccine dose as of Thursday morning.
The ten states with the lowest vaccination rates are Mississippi (34.3% of the population has received at least one dose), Louisiana (35.9%), Alabama (36.1%), Wyoming (37.2%), Idaho (37.7%), Tennessee (39.3%), Arkansas (39.6%), Georgia (39.9%), West Virginia (40.9%) and South Carolina (41%), according to Bloomberg’s data.
The other states with fewer than 45% at least partially vaccinated are Oklahoma (41.6%), Indiana (41.9%), North Dakota (42.2%), Missouri (42.3%), North Carolina (43.5%) and Texas (44.4%).
Utah, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Alaska, Arizona, Kentucky, Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, Michigan, Iowa and Florida also have vaccination rates below 50% of the population.
The states with the lowest percentage of people who are fully vaccinated are Mississippi (27.4%), Alabama (29.3%), Arkansas (31.3%), Louisiana (31.4%) and Tennessee (31.9%).
Crucial Quote
“We have pockets of this country that have lower rates of vaccination,” Walensky said Thursday on the Today show. “I worry that this virus is an opportunist, and where we have low rates of vaccination are where we may see it again.”
Big Number
50.8%. That’s the total percentage of the U.S. population that has received at least one vaccine dose, according to the CDC. Fauci said Thursday he’s “fairly certain” the national vaccination rate would likely help stave off any nationwide Covid-19 surges, but that what he’s “concerned about are those states in which the level of vaccination is low, that you may continue to see higher levels of cases as you get into the summer.”
Surprising Fact
At their current vaccination rates, the New York Times calculates that it would take Mississippi and Alabama at least a year to hit 70% of adults receiving at least one dose, and would take Wyoming ten months, Louisiana seven months and Oklahoma, Tennessee and North Dakota six months.
Tangent
In contrast to the states with the lowest vaccination rates, the top ten states with the highest share of the population with at least one vaccine dose are Vermont (70.7%), Hawaii (66.9%), Massachusetts (66.7%), Maine (63.6%), Connecticut (63.5%), Rhode Island (61.2%), New Jersey (60.6%), New Hampshire (60.1%), Pennsylvania (58.6%) and New Mexico (57.9%). Twelve states have also already reached President Joe Biden’s goal of 70% of adults receiving at least one shot.
Key Background
Vaccine hesitancy has become a major issue in the U.S. as the country’s supply of shots has outstripped demand, with a Kaiser Family Foundation poll conducted in May finding 32% of respondents still either do not want the vaccine, will only get it if required or will “wait and see” before they get it. Reasons behind not getting the shot include not having the time off to get it, continued distrust of the vaccine and how quickly it was developed, and concern about side effects, according to KFF’s polling. States have developed a wide range of incentives to help encourage more people who might be on the fence to get the shot—ranging from million-dollar lotteries to giving away guns—and the White House has declared June a “National Month of Action” to help the U.S. reach the Biden Administration’s goal of 70% of all U.S. adults receiving at least one vaccine shot by July 4. The administration has partnered with a number of private companies to help with its “all-of-America sprint,” including private day care centers who will offer free childcare while parents get vaccinated or recover from side effects and pharmacies offering the shot who are implementing extended hours.
Further Reading
See Which States Are Falling Behind Biden’s Vaccination Goal (New York Times)
These Twelve States Have Already Reached Biden’s July 4 Vaccine Goal (Forbes)
Here Are The States With The Greatest Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy, Poll Says (Forbes)
