Special Report
COVID-19: States Doing the Best in the Race to Roll Out Vaccines
Published:
It has now been 13 weeks since the first shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine were sent out to states, kicking off the largest vaccination campaign in human history. As of Mar. 17, 147,590,615 doses of the vaccine have been sent out across the country — equivalent to 45.0% of the U.S. population.
While the distribution of the vaccine is taking longer than initial federal projections had indicated, some states are faring far better than others. Under the current system, named Operation Warp Speed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sends states limited shipments of the vaccine as well as funding and tasks them with distributing the vaccine in accordance with relatively loose federal guidelines.
Each state has developed its own rollout plan, prioritizing different age groups and classes of essential workers. The mix of policies and logistical challenges across the country has led to wide variations between states in the percentage of vaccines that have been administered.
While nationwide 76.6% of distributed vaccine doses have been administered as of Mar. 17, in North Dakota 88.6% of vaccine doses have been administered — the largest share of any state. In Alabama, 65.5% of vaccine doses have been administered, the smallest share of any state.
Differences in vaccine administration from state to state have also led to variations in the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated. In Alaska, the number of administered doses amounts to 47.3% of the population — greater than the national vaccination rate of 34.4% and the largest share of any state. In Georgia, the number of administered doses amounts to 26.5% of the population — the smallest share of any state.
While a majority of Americans remain unvaccinated due to a lack of supply, there are some who have no plans to receive a vaccine at all. According to a survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24.9% of U.S. adults 18 and over who have not yet received the vaccine will either probably not or definitely not get a COVID-19 vaccine in the future. The most common reason cited for not wanting a vaccine was being concerned about possible side effects. Other commonly cited reasons include that they were planning to wait and see if it is safe, that other people need it more right now, and not trusting COVID-19 vaccines.
To determine how states are doing with the vaccine rollout, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. States were ranked based on the number of vaccines administered within a state as a percentage of the number of vaccines distributed to that state by the federal government as of Mar. 17. Data on confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Mar. 17 came from various state and local health departments and were adjusted for population using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. Data on the percentage of adults who probably or definitely will not get a COVID-19 vaccine and their reasons for not getting one came from the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, conducted from Feb. 17, 2021 to Mar. 1, 2021.
50. Alabama
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 2,080,870
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,363,987
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 65.5%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 10,391 per 100,000
49. Georgia
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 4,284,205
> Total vaccines administered within state: 2,814,158
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 65.7%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,782 per 100,000
48. Kansas
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 1,371,785
> Total vaccines administered within state: 931,281
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 67.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 10,260 per 100,000
These are all the counties in Kansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
47. Arkansas
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 1,336,570
> Total vaccines administered within state: 912,660
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 68.3%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 10,862 per 100,000
46. Alaska
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 499,625
> Total vaccines administered within state: 345,987
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 69.2%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 8,329 per 100,000
These are all the counties in Alaska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
45. Mississippi
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 1,314,855
> Total vaccines administered within state: 921,413
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 70.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 10,134 per 100,000
44. Tennessee
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 2,823,060
> Total vaccines administered within state: 2,007,555
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 71.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 11,655 per 100,000
43. Oklahoma
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 2,132,425
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,519,597
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 71.3%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 10,937 per 100,000
42. Texas
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 12,080,835
> Total vaccines administered within state: 8,850,377
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 73.3%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,402 per 100,000
These are all the counties in Texas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
41. Florida
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 9,981,955
> Total vaccines administered within state: 7,332,554
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 73.5%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,261 per 100,000
40. Louisiana
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 2,062,360
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,519,050
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 73.7%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,443 per 100,000
39. Missouri
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 2,623,475
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,939,762
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 73.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 7,895 per 100,000
38. California
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 17,612,260
> Total vaccines administered within state: 13,161,027
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 74.7%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 8,940 per 100,000
37. Delaware
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 461,335
> Total vaccines administered within state: 346,179
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 75.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,358 per 100,000
36. New York
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 8,921,845
> Total vaccines administered within state: 6,700,442
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 75.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 8,994 per 100,000
35. Ohio
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 5,173,835
> Total vaccines administered within state: 3,928,456
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 75.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 8,501 per 100,000
These are all the counties in Ohio where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
34. Michigan
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 4,357,770
> Total vaccines administered within state: 3,310,710
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 76.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 6,812 per 100,000
33. Hawaii
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 735,390
> Total vaccines administered within state: 559,118
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 76.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 2,007 per 100,000
These are all the counties in Hawaii where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
32. Oregon
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 1,851,555
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,414,113
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 76.4%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 3,800 per 100,000
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
31. Pennsylvania
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 5,860,715
> Total vaccines administered within state: 4,491,125
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 76.6%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 7,606 per 100,000
30. Wyoming
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 278,515
> Total vaccines administered within state: 214,015
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 76.8%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,581 per 100,000
29. Vermont
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 318,720
> Total vaccines administered within state: 246,663
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 77.4%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 2,741 per 100,000
28. Maryland
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 2,671,490
> Total vaccines administered within state: 2,082,976
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 78.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 6,544 per 100,000
27. Idaho
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 726,515
> Total vaccines administered within state: 566,777
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 78.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,874 per 100,000
These are all the counties in Idaho where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
26. Indiana
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 2,817,710
> Total vaccines administered within state: 2,206,988
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 78.3%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 10,018 per 100,000
25. Colorado
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 2,536,780
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,987,533
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 78.3%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 7,722 per 100,000
24. Montana
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 517,205
> Total vaccines administered within state: 406,867
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 78.7%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,589 per 100,000
23. New Hampshire
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 607,415
> Total vaccines administered within state: 478,758
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 78.8%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 5,837 per 100,000
22. South Carolina
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 2,089,905
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,649,023
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 78.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 10,412 per 100,000
21. Illinois
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 5,664,615
> Total vaccines administered within state: 4,469,795
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 78.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,578 per 100,000
20. Washington
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 3,427,310
> Total vaccines administered within state: 2,705,839
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 78.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 4,623 per 100,000
19. North Carolina
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 4,596,440
> Total vaccines administered within state: 3,630,467
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 79.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 8,479 per 100,000
18. West Virginia
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 879,575
> Total vaccines administered within state: 695,358
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 79.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 7,607 per 100,000
17. Nevada
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 1,302,310
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,034,347
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 79.4%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,744 per 100,000
These are all the counties in Nevada where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
16. Kentucky
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 1,953,155
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,582,305
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 81.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,364 per 100,000
15. Rhode Island
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 496,165
> Total vaccines administered within state: 403,044
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 81.2%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 12,478 per 100,000
14. Nebraska
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 873,070
> Total vaccines administered within state: 712,099
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 81.6%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 10,609 per 100,000
13. Arizona
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 3,299,085
> Total vaccines administered within state: 2,697,523
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 81.8%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 11,463 per 100,000
12. South Dakota
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 469,175
> Total vaccines administered within state: 384,987
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 82.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 11,501 per 100,000
11. Maine
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 636,990
> Total vaccines administered within state: 528,359
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 82.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 3,540 per 100,000
These are all the counties in Maine where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
10. Virginia
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 3,643,465
> Total vaccines administered within state: 3,027,633
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 83.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 7,012 per 100,000
9. Minnesota
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 2,494,350
> Total vaccines administered within state: 2,080,648
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 83.4%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 8,865 per 100,000
8. Connecticut
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 1,774,555
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,483,587
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 83.6%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 8,255 per 100,000
7. Iowa
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 1,377,395
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,155,384
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 83.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 10,900 per 100,000
These are all the counties in Iowa where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
6. New Jersey
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 3,878,855
> Total vaccines administered within state: 3,254,946
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 83.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,557 per 100,000
5. Utah
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 1,248,930
> Total vaccines administered within state: 1,052,347
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 84.3%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 11,846 per 100,000
These are all the counties in Utah where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
4. Wisconsin
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 2,542,555
> Total vaccines administered within state: 2,160,948
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 85.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,802 per 100,000
3. Massachusetts
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 3,159,090
> Total vaccines administered within state: 2,710,203
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 85.8%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 8,798 per 100,000
2. New Mexico
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 1,131,335
> Total vaccines administered within state: 983,709
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 87.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 9,009 per 100,000
1. North Dakota
> Total vaccines distributed to state: 367,000
> Total vaccines administered within state: 325,202
> Pct. of distributed vaccines administered: 88.6%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases: 13,291 per 100,000
Click here to see all coronavirus data for every state.
Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.
A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.
Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!
By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.
By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.