JACKSON, Miss. — All Mississippians will be eligible for COVID vaccine appointments beginning Tuesday, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday.
Reeves said almost 10,000 appointments would be available statewide over the next three weeks.
“Starting tomorrow, ALL new appointments will be open to ALL Mississippians. Get your shot friends – and let’s get back to normal!” Reeves wrote on Twitter.
Vaccinations in Mississippi are currently available for anyone ages 50 or over, staff at K-12 schools, first responders, health care workers and those who are at least 16 and have health conditions that might make them more vulnerable to the virus.
Reeves urged those in the 50 and up age group to make appointments Monday before eligibility expands to the entire state. People can get vaccinated at state-run drive-thru sites in counties across the state, at private clinics and community health centers and some pharmacies, like Walmart and Walgreens.
WREG-TV researched vaccine stats in Mississippi, by using the most recent US Census numbers, and vaccine information posted on Monday, 10.8% of Mississippians are fully vaccinated and 19.6% have received the first shot.
The numbers also reflect an unbalanced process: 64% of the vaccinated population is white, compared to 59% of the state’s population being identified as white caucasian.
So far, about 14.2% of Mississippi adults have been vaccinated.
