States Racing to Vaccinate Older Americans

The San Jose Mercury News reports that the race to vaccinate older Americans for COVID-19 is accelerating, with more than a third of people 65 and older having received their first shot in states that have provided data. An Associated Press study of information from 27 states where data is available indicates that many other states are laggards. The segment of vaccines given to those 65 years and older varies, accounting for about three-quarters of all first-dose shots in Florida and more than two-thirds in North Carolina. On the lower end are states like Oregon, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Nebraska, and Maryland, with 20 percent or less of the 65-and-older population receiving doses. "We can do better," said University of Washington in Seattle Professor Ali Mokdad. "I can't wait for the day when all those who want the vaccine can get the vaccine. The system we have in place is working. We have to keep pushing for more vaccine." Mokdad said data is still insufficient to determine whether vaccination is reducing infections and deaths in that age group, and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation intends to investigate that in the coming weeks.