Special Report
States Getting the Most COVID-19 Vaccines From the Federal Government
Published:
It has now been 63 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 March 1, 690,435,045 doses of the vaccine have been sent out across the country — equivalent to 210.3% 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 210,344.9 vaccine doses per 100,000 Americans, Vermont has received 272,192 doses per 100,000 residents — the most of any state. Meanwhile, Wyoming has received 161,533 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 Wisconsin, 88.9% of vaccine doses have been administered, the most of any state and far greater than the 80.1% national average. In Alabama, 65.9% 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 215.9% of the state population — the largest share of any state. The lowest vaccination rate is in Alabama, where 124.4% of residents have received a dose of the vaccine. Nationwide, the number of doses administered is equivalent to 168.6% 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, 64.4% 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 believing they don’t need a vaccine.
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 March 1 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 March 1 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 December 29, 2021 to January 10, 2022.
50. Wyoming
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 161,533
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 126.4% (2nd fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 26,766 (13th most)
> Population: 578,759
49. Louisiana
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 169,947
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 130.3% (4th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 25,007 (22nd most)
> Population: 4,648,794
48. North Dakota
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 172,335
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 139.7% (9th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 31,235 (3rd most)
> Population: 762,062
47. Montana
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 175,986
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 143.7% (14th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 24,869 (24th most)
> Population: 1,068,778
46. Oklahoma
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 176,613
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 144.6% (15th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 25,787 (19th most)
> Population: 3,956,971
45. Mississippi
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 178,033
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 126.5% (3rd fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 26,513 (15th most)
> Population: 2,976,149
44. Tennessee
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 179,539
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 140.6% (10th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 29,347 (4th most)
> Population: 6,829,174
43. Idaho
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 179,926
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 132.4% (5th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 23,706 (20th fewest)
> Population: 1,787,065
These are all the counties in Idaho where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
42. Missouri
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 180,455
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 141.1% (11th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 22,731 (15th fewest)
> Population: 6,137,428
41. Nevada
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 184,170
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 153.1% (21st fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 22,122 (11th fewest)
> Population: 3,080,156
These are all the counties in Nevada where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
40. Utah
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 187,025
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 157.9% (25th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 28,758 (5th most)
> Population: 3,205,958
These are all the counties in Utah where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
39. Indiana
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 187,529
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 136.7% (8th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 24,960 (23rd most)
> Population: 6,732,219
38. Ohio
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 187,973
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 147.4% (17th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 22,698 (14th fewest)
> Population: 11,689,100
These are all the counties in Ohio where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
37. Kentucky
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 188,097
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 141.4% (12th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 28,531 (6th most)
> Population: 4,467,673
36. Alabama
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 188,739
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 124.4% (fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 26,097 (18th most)
> Population: 4,903,185
35. Wisconsin
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 190,608
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 169.5% (21st most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 26,973 (12th most)
> Population: 5,822,434
34. Arizona
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 193,570
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 158.7% (24th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 27,160 (9th most)
> Population: 7,278,717
33. South Carolina
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 194,349
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 141.4% (13th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 28,337 (7th most)
> Population: 5,148,714
32. Georgia
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 194,538
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 135.4% (6th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 23,195 (17th fewest)
> Population: 10,617,423
31. Nebraska
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 194,918
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 159.4% (23rd most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 23,447 (18th fewest)
> Population: 1,934,408
30. Arkansas
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 194,950
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 135.5% (7th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 27,153 (10th most)
> Population: 3,017,804
29. Kansas
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 197,350
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 152.3% (20th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 26,278 (17th 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. Alaska
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 197,645
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 149.8% (18th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 31,556 (2nd most)
> Population: 731,545
These are all the counties in Alaska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
27. Iowa
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 197,747
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 156.2% (25th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 23,735 (21st fewest)
> Population: 3,155,070
These are all the counties in Iowa where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
26. North Carolina
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 199,134
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 153.8% (24th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 24,632 (25th most)
> Population: 10,488,084
25. South Dakota
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 199,497
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 153.3% (23rd fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 26,653 (14th most)
> Population: 884,659
24. Michigan
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 200,487
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 152.3% (19th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 23,611 (19th fewest)
> Population: 9,986,857
23. New Mexico
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 202,522
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 179.8% (13th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 24,360 (24th fewest)
> Population: 2,096,829
22. Texas
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 203,109
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 153.2% (22nd fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 22,577 (12th fewest)
> Population: 28,995,881
These are all the counties in Texas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
21. Colorado
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 206,185
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 179.2% (14th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 22,766 (16th fewest)
> Population: 5,758,736
20. Illinois
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 206,545
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 171.9% (20th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 23,886 (22nd fewest)
> Population: 12,671,821
19. Minnesota
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 212,551
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 175.7% (18th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 25,046 (21st most)
> Population: 5,639,632
18. Florida
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 212,560
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 168.3% (22nd most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 27,035 (11th most)
> Population: 21,477,737
17. West Virginia
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 215,009
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 147.1% (16th fewest)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 27,250 (8th most)
> Population: 1,792,147
16. California
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 217,432
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 181.2% (12th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 22,630 (13th fewest)
> Population: 39,512,223
15. Virginia
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 219,858
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 186.2% (10th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 19,196 (7th fewest)
> Population: 8,535,519
14. Washington
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 221,134
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 182.0% (11th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 18,615 (6th fewest)
> Population: 7,614,893
13. Pennsylvania
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 224,948
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 172.7% (19th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 21,531 (9th fewest)
> Population: 12,801,989
12. Oregon
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 225,886
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 176.5% (17th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 16,413 (2nd fewest)
> Population: 4,217,737
These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
11. New York
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 225,950
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 194.7% (7th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 25,228 (20th most)
> Population: 19,453,561
10. Delaware
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 228,049
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 177.9% (16th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 26,346 (16th most)
> Population: 973,764
9. Connecticut
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 232,855
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 204.6% (3rd most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 20,261 (8th fewest)
> Population: 3,565,287
8. Hawaii
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 234,448
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 198.2% (6th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 16,251 (fewest)
> Population: 1,415,872
These are all the counties in Hawaii where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).
7. Massachusetts
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 234,814
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 207.2% (2nd most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 24,223 (23rd fewest)
> Population: 6,892,503
6. Rhode Island
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 235,559
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 201.2% (5th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 31,903 (most)
> Population: 1,059,361
5. New Jersey
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 235,910
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 186.6% (9th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 24,394 (25th fewest)
> Population: 8,882,190
4. Maine
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 237,489
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 201.2% (4th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 16,823 (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).
3. New Hampshire
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 241,031
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 178.1% (15th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 21,896 (10th fewest)
> Population: 1,359,711
2. Maryland
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 248,290
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 190.6% (8th most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 16,572 (3rd fewest)
> Population: 6,045,680
1. Vermont
> Vaccines distributed per 100,000: 272,192
> Vaccinations administered as pct. of population: 215.9% (most)
> COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents: 16,630 (4th fewest)
> Population: 623,989
Click here to see all coronavirus data for every state.
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