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JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) held news conference on Friday regarding COVID-19 vaccine availability in the state.

Health officials said additional allotments of the COVID-19 vaccine will be available next week. The increase means Mississippi will receive 9,000 additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Most of the doses were left over from long term care programs.

State health leaders said Mississippi typically receives a weekly allocation of 37,000 doses, which will be increased to 43,000 along with the additional 9,000 doses.

So far, 200,000 Mississippians have received the first dose of the vaccine. Patients can now schedule their second dose right after they receive the first dose.

On Friday, Governor Tate Reeves announced 15,000 new appointments to get the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine were now available in Mississippi.

People eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine can try to make an appointment at COVIDvaccine.umc.edu or by calling the COVID-19 call center at 1-877-978-6453.