When the original Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were approved for use, they were rolled out much behind schedule, at a level that would have taken 10 years to reach herd immunity. According to the New York Times, as of January 4, about 350,000 doses of the vaccine were being administered nationwide each day.

Now, vaccine rollout has rapidly increased with approximately 1.74 million doses being administered per day, according to the New York Times. This rate lies right above the White House’s goal of 1.5 million doses being administered per day for the first 100 days of Biden’s presidency.

The Biden Administration stated that they were hoping for 150 million doses to be administered from his first day, January 20, to his 100th day, April 29. If the current trend continues, that goal will be met or surpassed. As of February 28, 59 million doses have been administered since Biden took office in January.

Currently, Alaska is leading the states with both the highest percentage of the population vaccinated with one dose, at 23% of the population, and the highest percentage of the population vaccinated with two shots, at 13%, according to the New York Times.

According to the same New York Times ranking, Georgia currently has the lowest percentage of the population vaccinated with one dose, with only 12% of the population that has received the first dose. However, Utah trails with the lowest percentage of the population vaccinated with two doses, at 5.5%. 

More locally, Illinois ranks 22nd in the U.S. with the percentage of the population vaccinated with one dose, at 15.8%, and 47th in the percentage of the population vaccinated with two doses, at 6.4%. According to the Illinois Department of Health, Kane County has seen nearly 5% of its population fully vaccinated with two doses.

Around 105,000 vaccines total have been administered in Kane County, with around 3,000 doses administered per day. Vaccine rollout in Kane County and surrounding areas faced serious delays with back-to-back winter storms in February, but has taken a major turn in the past few days, with an increase of vaccine administration.

Kane County has also faced racial and ethnic disparities in vaccine rollout. Also according to the Illinois Department of Health, 73% of vaccine recipients in Kane County have been non-Hispanic White, despite only making up 57% of the population. Hispanics and Latinos, as well as those of other races have only made up 27% of vaccine recipients, despite representing 43% of the population.

More specifically, Hispanic and Latino individuals make up 32% of Kane’s population and have only received 11% of the administered vaccines, African Americans make up 6% of the population and have only received 3% of administered vaccines, and Asian-Americans make up 4% of the population and have received roughly 4% of the vaccines.

Additionally, 62% of vaccine recipients in Kane County have been women and 37% have been men. Also, 56% of vaccine recipients have been between the ages of 16 and 64 while 45% have been 65 and up. As the rollout advances, accessibility across all age groups is set to increase. 

Overall, the vaccination trend across the United States is moving in a positive direction. As more and more Americans are vaccinated each day, hope may be on the horizon for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.