10% Of Rhode Islanders Fully Vaccinated Against Coronavirus

PROVIDENCE, RI — Approximately 10 percent of Rhode Island residents are now fully vaccinated again the coronavirus, the director of the state's Department of Health announced Friday. The state is administering thousands of vaccine doses daily, and stands ready to more than double weekly distribution to meet President Joe Biden's ambitious vaccine goal.

Rhode Island is in a good place when it comes to vaccine distribution, Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said.

"We are making very strong progress," she said.

To date, about 10 percent of the state's population is fully vaccinated, and about 7,500 doses are being administered every day. That puts Rhode Island in the top 10 nationwide for vaccine distribution per capita, Alexander-Scott said.

The state is currently giving out about 48,000 vaccine doses per week, Alexander-Scott explained. That number is limited by the number of doses supplied by the federal government, but the current infrastructure can accommodate 100,000 doses weekly. After Biden called for vaccine eligibility to be open to all adults by May 1, more doses are expected to be sent to the state in the coming weeks and months to help meet that goal.

"Our vaccine supply is still limited, but we are hopeful that will start to change in the coming weeks," Alexander-Scott said.

On Friday, Rhode Island residents age 60 to 64, as well as residents age 16 to 64 with certain health issues, became eligible for vaccine appointments. Because vaccine doses are still limited, Alexander-Scott urged residents to be patient and know going in that they might not get an appointment right away. As more doses arrive, more appointments will be made available, making it easier to schedule.

"We'll get there eventually," she said.

Read more: 'Significant' Coronavirus Reopening Coming To RI Next Week