who can be next in line in the US

President Joe Biden instructed states to make coronavirus vaccines available to all adults by May 1.

Some states, including Colorado, Massachusetts and Utah, are prepared to reach that milestone in the next month, but no state has opened vaccines for the general population yet.

State vaccination schedules vary: some have higher priority levels than others or broader eligibility requirements. In most states, the stages of the vaccine at this time do not perfectly follow those described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • Phase 1a: Health personnel and residents of long-term care institutions
  • Phase 1b: People aged 75 and over and essential frontline workers
  • Phase 1c: People aged 65 to 74, people aged 16 to 64 with underlying medical conditions and any remaining essential workers
  • Level 2: All other persons aged 16 and over are not yet recommended for vaccination

Several states are still working to immunize these high-priority groups. Others are preparing to enter their final phase of priority vaccinations in mid-March.

Here’s who is likely to be eligible for the next vaccines in each state.

All but 3 states are vaccinating teachers

A teacher in Osterode, Germany, teaches students about the coronavirus.

A teacher in Osterode, Germany, teaches students about the coronavirus.

Frank May / picture alliance / Getty Images



At least some K-12 teachers are eligible for vaccines in all states in the U.S. except Indiana, Montana and Missouri. But Indiana and Missouri will open vaccines for teachers on Monday, and Montana teachers still have access to vaccines through a federal partnership with pharmacies.

Pennsylvania began vaccinating teachers on Thursday. New Hampshire teachers began receiving vaccines at regional clinics on Friday, but will not be able to apply for the vaccine at state centers until Wednesday.

Two states currently limit the vaccine eligibility of teachers based on their age: In West Virginia, teachers aged 50 and over may be vaccinated since January; then the state opened vaccines for teachers in their 40s on March 3. Teachers must also be at least 50 years old to be vaccinated in Florida.

Grocery workers are receiving injections in about 25 states

Grocery worker, low wage

A worker refills chicken at a supermarket in Dallas, Texas, in April 2020.

LM Otero / AP Photo


Approximately half of US states are vaccinating at least some of their supermarket workers, according to a New York Times survey. These workers fall into CDC’s second priority group, Phase 1b.

Grocery workers will be eligible for vaccines in Washington starting Wednesday and in Pennsylvania starting March 28. Louisiana said grocery workers will be part of its next priority level, but it is unclear when these vaccines will start.

The following states are already vaccinating grocery workers: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina , North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Restaurant workers can take shots in at least 17 states

los angeles outdoor dining

A waitress takes customers’ orders outside a restaurant in Los Angeles, California, on January 28, 2021.

Valerie Macon / AFP / Getty Images


At least 17 states are vaccinating restaurant workers, who fall under the CDC Phase 1c priority group. These states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Hawaii will open vaccines for restaurant employees on Monday. Colorado hopes to do the same on March 21.

People in their 60s are being vaccinated in 18 states

Vaccine distribution

A woman receives a vaccine at a pharmacy.

lechatnoir / Getty Images


The CDC does not yet recommend prioritizing adults under the age of 65 for vaccines, as the data show that the risk of severe COVID-19 increases with age. Still, American adults aged 50 to 64 are 25 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than adults aged 5 to 17.

For that reason, about 18 states are offering vaccines to some people under the age of 65: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Some states have made age the main determining factor for eligibility for the vaccine. Rhode Island, for example, increased eligibility for residents aged 60 and over on Friday. Thereafter, it will offer vaccines to residents in their 50s, followed by residents in their 40s.

Maine has similarly vaccinated 60-year-olds since March 3. As of April 1, residents 50 and older will start vaccinating.

A dozen states are immunizing people in their 50s

Vaccine sticker, USA, Kentucky

Dr. Jason Smith shows off his bandage after being vaccinated at the University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky.

Jon Cherry / Getty Images


Of the states that offer vaccines for younger groups, 12 are already giving vaccines to people in their 50s.

Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Nevada, South Carolina and Vermont are now vaccinating people aged 55 and over, while Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Utah, Wyoming and West Virginia are vaccinating people aged 50 and over.

Georgia will begin giving injections to people 55 and older on Monday. Colorado will begin vaccinating people in their 50s on March 19.

All but 10 states are immunizing adults with high-risk medical conditions

vaccine for covid

An elderly woman receives the COVID-19 vaccine.

Felix Kästle / Alliance image via Getty Images


All but 10 states – Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Nebraska, North Carolina and Washington – are vaccinating adults with high-risk medical conditions.

Hawaii will expand the vaccine’s eligibility to these adults on Monday. North Carolina will do the same on Wednesday, followed by Alabama on March 22. Idaho, Kansas and Washington hope to vaccinate high-risk adults in April.

Loading Something is loading.

Source