Democratic Governors Key To Successful Vaccine Rollout

President Joe Biden reported 150 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered within his first 75 days in office – and he credited governors as a key part of the country’s success.

The U.S. is running one of the world’s most successful and efficient vaccine rollouts, topping Canada and other developed countries. The White House is on schedule to meet President Biden’s goal of 200 million shots in the first 100 days. And today, for the first time, the CDC reports more than three million people are receiving a vaccine each day. By April 19th, President Biden says all adults in the U.S. will be eligible for vaccination and at least 90% will have a vaccination site within 5 miles of where they live. 

The cornerstone of the United States’ successful vaccination rollout has been Democratic governors, who have led the distribution of vaccines by building up statewide networks and coming up with innovative plans to get shots in arms as quickly as possible. Democratic governors have also intentionally prioritized equity in vaccine distribution, ensuring everyone has access to a vaccine when it’s their turn.

As DGA Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham wrote, the Biden administration’s unified approach with governors has made a difference in speeding up the vaccine rollout, and should make the country optimistic. She added, “Through hard work and collaboration, we can and will emerge victorious, and we’ll begin the work of building our country back better than ever before.”

Read more about the some of the work Democratic governors have done to get shots in arms and ensure an equitable vaccine rollout below:

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom: California to give 40% of vaccine to Latino, high-risk areas
• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis: Colorado opening up COVID-19 vaccines to everyone 16 and older
• Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont: State moves up vaccine timeline for everyone over 16 to April 1
• Delaware Gov. John Carney: Delaware expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all residents 16+
• Hawaii Gov. David Ige: Governor: Hawaii ‘on track’ to expand vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and up by May 1
• Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker: Gov. J.B. Pritzker promotes vaccine equity in rural communities
• Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly: Kansas to make COVID-19 vaccine available to all adults, starting next phase of plan
• Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear: Kentucky COVID-19 vaccine rollout puts more focus on ensuring equity in distribution
• Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards: Sleeves Up: Louisiana launches intensive vaccination effort
• Maine Gov. Janet Mills: Mills accelerates Maine vaccination timeline, all Mainers age 16 and older eligible April 7
• Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: Gov. Whitmer pushing vaccine equity at local clinic
• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz: Two Tims — Govs. Walz and Pawlenty — get COVID shots side by side
• North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper: Gov. Roy Cooper: Vaccine distribution to communities of color needs to be “intentional”
• New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy: New Jersey rolling out new vaccination vans to bring Covid-19 relief to hard-to-reach people
• New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham: Inside New Mexico’s Covid vaccine rollout success
• Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak: Mobile vaccination units headed to rural Nevada communities
• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo: ‘No more excuses’: Cuomo marks vaccine eligibility expanding to all 16 and over
• Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: Gov. Kate Brown: Oregonians age 16 and up eligible for vaccine on April 19
• Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf: Gov. Tom Wolf: Teacher, school staff vaccination initiative finishes ahead of schedule
• Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi: Puerto Rico Gov. Pierluisi seeks ‘equality’ in funding to tackle Covid, reconstruction
• Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee: Rhode Island to open vaccine eligibility to all adults April 19
• Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam: Gov. Northam announces Virginia will expand vaccine eligibility to all adults by April 18
• Washington Gov. Jay Inslee: Public-private ‘vaccine equity’ fund aims to bring doses to Black and brown communities in Washington state
• Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers: State spends $6.1 million on vaccine equity as community raises awareness