Utah adults ages 65 to 69 are immediately eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.
“We’re very pleased with where we are. We’re excited to now open this up to 65 and older," Gov. Spencer Cox said. "And we’re very excited to see the result of these vaccinations.”
Gov. Cox announced in his press conference Thursday that the COVID vaccine is available for adults ages 65-69 about a week and a half sooner than originally planned.
563,608 first and second doses of the vaccine have been administered in the state, which is a weekly increase of almost 101,000 doses.
As of Thursday morning, approximately 62% of seniors in Utah age 70 and older have been vaccinated with their first dose. Gov. Cox said these high numbers are what made it possible to open the vaccine for others earlier than expected, as weekly allocations of doses continue to increase.
“We always want demand to outpace supply," he said. "That’s how we make sure every vaccine is being used, that we always have vaccines in arms instead of on shelves.”
Gov. Cox previously announced the vaccine would also open up to Utahns with certain underlying medical conditions on March 1, and that date remains the same.
He urged Utah residents to be patient in making appointments as each county has a different number of doses, and there may be an influx of patients scheduling appointments now that it has opened up to more people.
“If you can’t find an appointment immediately, keep trying and eventually you will get your turn," he said.
Gov. Cox said doses are still being utilized within seven days of receiving them, and that of the 39 states listing deaths in their long term health facilities, Utah has the lowest mortality rate.
