Special Report
States Getting the Most COVID-19 Vaccines From the Federal Government
Published:
It has now been 53 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 December 21, 606,309,295 doses of the vaccine have been sent out across the country — equivalent to 184.7% of the U.S. population.
While the initial distribution of the vaccine took longer than federal projections had indicated, in recent months the U.S. has made great leaps in the worldwide race to administer vaccinations — and some states are faring far better than others. Under the current system, led by the White House COVID-19 Response Team, 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. The distribution of the vaccine is based on the size of the adult population in every state, which — according to some experts — can create inequities in states where a larger share of the population is at risk.
At this stage of the vaccine rollout, distribution of the vaccine varies widely from state to state. While the CDC has so far sent out an average of 184,715.5 vaccine doses per 100,000 Americans, Vermont has received 223,350 doses per 100,000 residents — the most of any state. Meanwhile, Wyoming has received 146,393 doses per 100,000, the fewest of any state.
The largest outlier is Wyoming, which has received the fewest doses per capita and is the smallest state.
While the federal government distributes vaccines to states, it is up to state governments to administer the vaccine — creating variations in both the percentage of vaccines that have been administered and the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated. In West Virginia, 91.0% of vaccine doses have been administered, the most of any state and far greater than the 82.0% national average. In Alabama, 69.1% of vaccine doses have been administered, the least of any state.
At this stage of the rollout, the number of doses administered in Vermont is equivalent to 196.0% of the state population — the largest share of any state. The lowest vaccination rate is in Idaho, where 111.7% of residents have received a dose of the vaccine. Nationwide, the number of doses administered is equivalent to 151.5% of the U.S. population.
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, 59.2% 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 not trusting COVID-19 vaccines, not trusting the government, and that they were planning to wait and see if it is safe.
To determine the states getting the most vaccines from the federal government, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. States were ranked based on the number of vaccines administered as of December 21 per 100,000 residents. Vaccine counts were adjusted for population using one-year data from the Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. Data on confirmed COVID-19 cases as of December 21 came from various state and local health departments and were adjusted for population using 2019 ACS data. Data on the percentage of adults who probably will not 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 August 18, 2021 to August 30, 2021.
50. Wyoming
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 146,393
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 116.3% (4th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 19,625 (6th most)
> Population: 578,759
49. Louisiana
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 147,092
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 118.7% (5th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 16,793 (25th fewest)
> Population: 4,648,794
48. Mississippi
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 153,337
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 113.8% (3rd fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 17,555 (17th most)
> Population: 2,976,149
47. North Dakota
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 156,071
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 130.9% (13th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 22,234 (most)
> Population: 762,062
46. Oklahoma
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 156,638
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 131.5% (14th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 17,334 (22nd most)
> Population: 3,956,971
45. Tennessee
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 157,587
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 128.2% (10th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 19,748 (3rd most)
> Population: 6,829,174
44. Missouri
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 158,782
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 129.8% (12th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 15,679 (19th fewest)
> Population: 6,137,428
43. Idaho
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 160,346
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 111.7% (fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 17,569 (15th most)
> Population: 1,787,065
These are all the counties in Idaho where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
42. Montana
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 160,414
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 133.0% (15th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 18,223 (10th most)
> Population: 1,068,778
41. Indiana
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 161,241
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 124.1% (8th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 17,551 (18th most)
> Population: 6,732,219
40. Nevada
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 162,576
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 137.1% (19th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 15,690 (20th fewest)
> Population: 3,080,156
These are all the counties in Nevada where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
39. Alabama
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 162,871
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 112.6% (2nd fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 17,507 (20th most)
> Population: 4,903,185
38. Arkansas
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 163,402
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 123.6% (7th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 18,015 (13th most)
> Population: 3,017,804
37. Kentucky
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 165,388
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 129.3% (11th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 18,481 (8th most)
> Population: 4,467,673
36. Utah
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 166,001
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 137.2% (21st fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 19,267 (7th most)
> Population: 3,205,958
These are all the counties in Utah where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
35. Ohio
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 167,265
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 133.2% (16th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 15,802 (21st fewest)
> Population: 11,689,100
These are all the counties in Ohio where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
34. South Carolina
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 169,859
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 127.8% (9th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 18,181 (11th most)
> Population: 5,148,714
33. Wisconsin
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 169,884
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 153.1% (23rd most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 18,106 (12th most)
> Population: 5,822,434
32. Arizona
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 170,591
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 141.2% (25th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 18,366 (9th most)
> Population: 7,278,717
31. Georgia
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 171,206
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 122.6% (6th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 15,933 (22nd fewest)
> Population: 10,617,423
30. Nebraska
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 173,770
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 144.7% (24th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 16,920 (25th most)
> Population: 1,934,408
29. Kansas
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 173,953
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 136.1% (17th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 17,087 (23rd most)
> Population: 2,913,314
These are all the counties in Kansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
28. North Carolina
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 176,456
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 138.9% (23rd fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 15,151 (15th fewest)
> Population: 10,488,084
27. South Dakota
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 176,692
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 139.5% (24th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 19,630 (5th most)
> Population: 884,659
26. Iowa
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 176,732
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 143.3% (25th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 17,655 (14th most)
> Population: 3,155,070
These are all the counties in Iowa where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
25. Michigan
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 177,038
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 137.2% (20th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 16,163 (24th fewest)
> Population: 9,986,857
24. Texas
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 177,249
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 137.0% (18th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 15,220 (16th fewest)
> Population: 28,995,881
These are all the counties in Texas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
23. Alaska
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 180,020
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 138.2% (22nd fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 20,392 (2nd most)
> Population: 731,545
These are all the counties in Alaska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
22. New Mexico
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 180,247
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 160.9% (15th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 16,062 (23rd fewest)
> Population: 2,096,829
21. Illinois
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 180,719
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 153.1% (22nd most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 15,342 (18th fewest)
> Population: 12,671,821
20. Colorado
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 186,425
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 161.6% (13th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 15,046 (13th fewest)
> Population: 5,758,736
19. Florida
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 187,685
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 153.6% (20th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 17,537 (19th most)
> Population: 21,477,737
18. Minnesota
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 188,901
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 158.9% (16th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 17,364 (21st most)
> Population: 5,639,632
17. California
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 190,382
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 162.5% (12th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 13,106 (9th fewest)
> Population: 39,512,223
16. West Virginia
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 191,010
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 173.9% (6th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 17,565 (16th most)
> Population: 1,792,147
15. Virginia
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 194,649
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 165.7% (10th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 11,920 (7th fewest)
> Population: 8,535,519
14. New York
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 195,654
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 171.1% (7th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 15,263 (17th fewest)
> Population: 19,453,561
13. Pennsylvania
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 195,998
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 153.3% (21st most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 14,765 (12th fewest)
> Population: 12,801,989
12. Washington
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 196,229
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 161.6% (14th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 10,510 (6th fewest)
> Population: 7,614,893
11. Oregon
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 199,673
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 158.9% (17th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 9,609 (3rd fewest)
> Population: 4,217,737
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
10. Delaware
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 199,714
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 158.5% (18th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 17,008 (24th most)
> Population: 973,764
9. Connecticut
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 205,007
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 181.9% (4th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 12,778 (8th fewest)
> Population: 3,565,287
8. New Jersey
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 206,166
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 164.4% (11th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 15,151 (14th fewest)
> Population: 8,882,190
7. Hawaii
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 206,394
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 154.2% (19th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 6,334 (fewest)
> Population: 1,415,872
These are all the counties in Hawaii where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
6. Massachusetts
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 208,177
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 183.7% (2nd most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 14,588 (11th fewest)
> Population: 6,892,503
5. Rhode Island
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 210,201
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 179.4% (5th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 19,706 (4th most)
> Population: 1,059,361
4. New Hampshire
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 210,986
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 169.0% (8th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 13,463 (10th fewest)
> Population: 1,359,711
3. Maine
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 212,799
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 182.0% (3rd most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 10,147 (5th fewest)
> Population: 1,344,212
These are all the counties in Maine where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
2. Maryland
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 215,190
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 168.6% (9th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 9,803 (4th fewest)
> Population: 6,045,680
1. Vermont
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 223,350
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 196.0% (most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 8,566 (2nd fewest)
> Population: 623,989
Click here to see all coronavirus data for every state.
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