COVID-19 Vaccine Scarcity and Prioritization

Abstract

Over the initial months of the vaccine rollout, demand for COVID-19 vaccines exceeded supply. Although the CDC issued data-based guidance for how to prioritize access to the vaccines, it was non-binding, and many state and local governments set different priorities.

This Article documents the different prioritizations set by the 64 different local health authorities – or “jurisdictions” – that received COVID-19 vaccines through the CDC’s program. These jurisdictions consisted of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, five large cities (Chicago, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, and San Antonio), along with American Samoa, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marina Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.

Many of these jurisdictions changed their vaccine prioritizations mid-course. The following tables reflect those changes and show how the COVID-19 vaccine was distributed to individuals aged 16 and older in each jurisdiction.

Note: Funding: The University of Idaho provided funding for a research assistant for this project. No other funding was received from any other source.

Declaration of Interests: Both authors were employed by the University of Idaho while engaged in this resource. Lauren Ballenger was also an intern with the State of Idaho while working on this project.

A related analysis of these prioritizations and the Americans with Disabilities Act can be found at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=3908302

Keywords: COVID-19, vaccine, health, rollout, shortage, scarcity, healthcare, schedule, high risk, disability, americans with disabilities act, ada