SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced Thursday that the state is expanding the number of Utahns who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Starting Monday, March 8, the following groups will be able to make appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine:
- All residents 50 years of age or older
- 16 years and older with certain underlying health conditions
- Anyone with type I or II diabetes
- Anyone who is obese and has a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30
- Anyone with chronic kidney disease
This is the largest group (600,000 to 700,000 people) that the state has added to its eligibility. The group also includes everyone who has a risk factor greater than 1, basically everyone who is most vulnerable to COVID-19.
Cox said that if vaccine distribution continues in its current trajectory, all Utahs will be able to receive the vaccine in April.
Vaccine updates
Currently, at least 75% of Utahns aged 75 and over have received at least the first dose of vaccine, and 52% of Utahns between the ages of 65 and 69 have also received at least one vaccine, Cox said.
There are more doses of vaccine on the way. Cox announced that the state has shipped 23,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the first vaccinations are expected to take place on Thursday.
Cox said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine changes the game.
“It’s a one-shot job,” Cox said. “And that’s so critical for many of our population.”
In addition, Cox said he is encouraged by a recent survey that indicates that 78% of Utahns are willing to take one of three authorized vaccines.
“The best vaccine for you is the vaccine you can get first,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, a state epidemiologist.
Last week, the state administered 660,444 doses of the vaccine, an increase of 125,079 doses over the previous week.
To date, Utah has administered 785,523 doses.
Vaccination roadmap
Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson announced that the state has created a vaccination roadmap for Utahns in marginalized communities, such as Utah’s homeless population and rural areas.
A look at the coronavirus numbers
The state reported 611 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. As of Wednesday, 7,286 more people underwent COVID-19 testing.
The average seven-day percentage of positivity of “people over people” is 10.0%, with an average of 558 positive cases per day.
Currently, 203 residents are hospitalized for complications of COVID-19 and 87 people have been admitted to intensive care units. The total number of hospitalizations since the outbreak is 14,816.
Another 12 Utahns have died from COVID-19 as of Thursday. Seven of the 12 deaths occurred before Feb. 11. In addition, two previously reported deaths were withdrawn on 23 February.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 1,965 Utahns have died from the virus.