NEW YORK CITY- The country is now three weeks into the most ambitious vaccination campaign in history. However, far fewer people than expected are being vaccinated. 12 million doses of the vaccine from Moderna and Pfizer have been shipped but not even 3 million have been administered. This is partially due to the federal government allowing each state to follow their own plans rather than setting a standard for the entire country.
On Monday, Governor Ricketts announced that Nebraskans over the age of 75 could be able to receive the vaccine within the next three weeks. This section of the population will be able to register for the vaccine through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services online, probably within the next week. The state is updating their vaccination plan to clarify that elderly people come before teachers and other essential workers in the 1B priority group. School districts will also be given different priorities based on local need due to surges in cases or other factors.
Nebraska was once ranked second among states in delivery of vaccinations and remains in the top third.The state has received nearly 95,000 vaccines and 36,500 vaccinations have been administered, including 107 second doses.
Vaccinations will begin in the state's prisons later this week. The first shipment of vaccines was received by the Department of Corrections this week. The medical staff that works with the prison population will be given the vaccine first. After this, the vaccines will move to staff members then eventually to the general population of the prison.
Front-line corrections workers are included in Phase 1B of the state's vaccination priorities, this tier also includes first responders. Inmates are then listed in Phase 1C. The medical director for the DOC said that shots will be prioritized based on patients who are at the highest risk for becoming sick. Prisons have been identified as high-risk populations for quick spread due to the nature of close living in prisons.
West Virginia is the only state to report having delivered vaccine doses to all of its long-term care facilities.
The next hurdle will be increasing the low numbers of physicians and medical centers that have signed up to administer the vaccine when it become more available.