Half A Million RI Residents Have At Least 1 COVID-19 Vaccine Dose

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island has reached a promising pandemic milestone: administering at least one coronavirus vaccine dose to more than half a million residents. In a state of about 1 million people, that's more than half the entire population.

According to Andy Slavitt, a senior advisor with the Biden administration's pandemic response, Rhode Island had given at least one vaccine dose to 58 percent of the population, making it the only New England state to not reach the 60 percent mark to date. Neighboring New Hampshire was in the lead with more than 70 percent.

Gov. Dan McKee and other state leaders encouraged eligible Rhode Islanders to get their vaccine as soon as possible so the state can continue its reopening effort.

"Get vaccinated, that's the most important thing you can do," McKee said.

As vaccinated numbers continue to rise, Rhode Island is poised to remove all capacity restrictions on businesses by Memorial Day, as well as loosen mask mandates in certain outdoor situations. These new policies were designed for fully vaccinated people, explained Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the state's Department of Health. That means the person received all doses of their vaccine at least two weeks previously.

"It's important to know that the moves we are making are based on what we can do together to get vaccinated," she said during Thursday's weekly news conference. "Every day you don't get vaccinated, your risk of getting COVID-19 gets higher and higher."

Hundreds of vaccine appointments continue to become available in the state and can be scheduled through the vaccinateri.org portal.

Read more:

• 100% Capacity, Unlimited Social Gatherings Coming To RI May 28
• New Rules For Youth Sports In RI Start April 26
• RI To Pilot Walk-Up Coronavirus Vaccine Clinics