Rhode Island becomes 8th state to administer at least one vaccine shot to 70% of population

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Sun, 2021-05-23 12:47 — mike kraft

An 8th US state just reached a critical Covid-19 vaccination milestone As US officials push for more vaccinations amid slowing demand across the country, another state has now crossed an important milestone. Christina Maxouris, CNN CNN

(CNN) As US officials push for more vaccinations amid slowing demand across the country, another state has now crossed an important milestone.

Rhode Island is now the eighth state to have administered at least one Covid-19 shot to 70% of its adult population, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The state joins Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Vermont, which have also vaccinated at least 70% of their adult population.

The news adds on to experts' optimism about the country's declining Covid-19 case numbers and where we could be by summer time as vaccine numbers continue to climb. Earlier this month, President Joe Biden set a goal of administering at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose to 70% of American adults by July 4 -- and has said Americans will be able to celebrate Independence Day by then with a true semblance of normalcy.

So far, more than 61% of US adults have gotten at least one Covid-19 shot and more than 49% are fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.

And nearly 49% of the total US population has received at least one shot and nearly 39% of the population is fully vaccinated, that data shows.

But the demand for a shot is down -- and experts worry the slowing vaccinations may mean some communities don't reach the widespread protection levels that officials hope for and continue to face outbreaks.

"I think we'll be dealing with Covid-19 for quite a long time unfortunately," emergency room physician Dr. Rob Davidson told CNN on Saturday, when asked what could happen if the country doesn't vaccinate enough of the population.

According to CDC data published on Thursday, the a verage daily pace of Covid-19 va ccinations was down almost 50% from its April peak. ...

There are still several challenges officials are working to overcome in the country's vaccination efforts. Experts say many Americans still have questions about the vaccines, haven't received enough -- or the right -- information and others have problems with access, including being unable to take off of work to go get a shot.

"Employers not only have an opportunity to increase vaccination rates but... it turns out that they can also help to close the equity gap in vaccinations," US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said during a White House Covid-19 briefing on Friday. ...

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