Despite the state’s nation-leading efficiency in COVID-19 vaccine distribution, West Virginia officials said new doses from the federal government for the sought-after vaccine are slowing down.
As Governor Jim Justice said earlier this week, “It’s unacceptable.”
With an aging population, the state hit the ground running in getting shots out to those deemed most at-risk and front-line medical workers.
However, the state has already administered 86 percent of the second-round shots it has received, with not enough remaining to come close to covering the 132,000-plus first-round shots administered statewide. Both available vaccines require two doses, three to four weeks apart.
“It’s the third oldest state in the union, and it’s the most critically ill state with many chronic illnesses,” Justice said Tuesday. “We have to have more vaccines, because we can save lives, and we won’t leave them on a shelf.”
The state has excelled in vaccine distribution where many other states have not. Another positive for West Virginia was a report earlier this week showed a downward trend in both positive cases and hospitalizations. But without adequate vaccinations, the success will be a moot point.
“We can’t give you a vaccine shot if we don’t have the vaccines,” Justice said. “That is absolutely inadequate. It’s unacceptable.”
State and local officials have been working tirelessly to end this pandemic — federal government support is necessary to win that fight.
