As Covid Vaccinations Slow, Parts of the US Remain Far Behind 70% Goal

Earlier this week, the U.S. fell just short of the White House’s goal to give at least a first dose to 70% of adults by Independence Day. By July 4, 67% of adult Americans had gotten either the first shot of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Drilling down from national rates, the picture varies widely at the regional level: Massachusetts and most states in the Northeast reached or exceeded 70% (for adults, age 18 and older) in June, while Tennessee and most Southern states have vaccination rates between 50% and 60%. (KHN, NPR)