Some states were able to fully vaccinate their populations 65 and older within two months, but for others it could take more than twice as long, an analysis by CNN found.
If individuals 65 and older were the only people vaccinated, Alaska could fully vaccinate its seniors within 43 days – with both shots of the two-dose regimen. In Iowa, Hawaii, Idaho, and Florida, it can take more than 130 days or more than four months.
The analysis looked at the total senior population in each state, along with the average rate of vaccine administration over the past seven days, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In four states, more than one in five people is 65 or older, according to data from the US Census Bureau: Maine, Florida, West Virginia and Vermont.
At the current rate of vaccination, it would be 131 days for Florida to fully vaccinate the elderly population if they were the only group vaccinated. However, West Virginia is administering vaccines at a per capita rate about 32% faster than Florida, and could fully vaccinate the older population in 87 days.
About two weeks ago, the federal government – under the Trump administration – issued new guidelines to states to extend vaccine eligibility to adults 65 and older, along with health professionals and long-term residents and staff. But both Florida and West Virginia had adjusted their plans to focus on seniors earlier.
The Florida vaccination plan has left many frustrated with its apparent lack of coordination, but Gov. Ron DeSantis has championed the state’s plan and emphasized protecting the elderly.
“We put seniors first and other states soon followed,” he said at a news conference.
According to the state’s latest vaccine report, about a quarter of Florida’s senior population – more than 1.1 million people age 65 or older – had received at least one dose of the vaccine.
In West Virginia, Governor Jim Justice said at a news conference Monday that nearly 74,000 seniors had received at least one dose of the vaccine – about 20% of the state’s 65 and older population.
While vaccine delivery may be faster in some states, the focus on the older population may not be as high.
For example, in Michigan, vaccine delivery is 17% faster than in Florida. But according to the state’s vaccine dashboard, only 17% of seniors in the state have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine.