Photo: Martin Schwartz/PEOPLE
With theCOVID-19 vaccine rollout now moving steadily alongandmillions now vaccinated against the virus, most states now have enough supply to open up their eligibility to all residents over the age of 16.
As of April 8, there are 39 states — Alabama,Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming — that are now allowing any residents 16 and older to sign up to receive one of the three approved COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccine from Pfizer is approved for people age 16 and up, and those from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson,are approved for people 18and up.
As of April 8, more than a third of the U.S. population, 109,995,734 people, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine,the Centers for Disease Control says. Of that group, 19.4%, or 64,422,618 people,are fully vaccinated against the virus.
RELATED VIDEO: Why I’m Getting Vaccinated: Hota Kotb, Al Roker & More Stars on Stopping the Spread of COVID-19
The country is dealing, though, with hesitancy from some Americans who are eligible for the vaccine but have yet to make an appointment.
“We need millions more to get vaccinated,” Biden said in a speech on March 11, explaining that wider participation is needed to end the pandemic.
Biden emphasized that vaccines will help end the pandemic, noting thatsome states are seeing a rise in casesas newer variants spread through the country.
“Getting vaccinated is the best thing we can do to fight back against these variants,” he said.
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
