Tennessee Announces Expansion Of COVID-19 Vaccinations

More Tennesseans will become eligible to receive coronavirus vaccinations later this month as the state moves into Phase 1B of its rollout plan. Starting Monday (February 22), residents ages 65 and older as well as staff at schools and childcare facilities, will be eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

In addition to staff and educators at kindergarten through 12th grade schools, air traffic controllers, large cargo personnel, and operations personnel have been added to Phase 1B, FOX 17 reports. The state also moved pregnant women to the next rollout group, Phase 1C.

"Tennessee has administered more than one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine so far, and we've made substantial progress in protecting our senior citizens who are over age 70 through vaccination," said Dr. Lisa Piercey, Tennessee Health Commissioner. "While we remain focused on our seniors, who are the highest-risk population, we're able to expand vaccine eligibility to these additional groups as our supply continues to grow each week."

The White House announced that the federal government will increase its vaccine distribution to states to 13.5 million doses. Press Secretary Jen Psaki said 2 million vaccines will be sent out to retail pharmacies each week.

"This program will expand access in neighborhoods across the country," she said, "so that people can call and make an appointment and get their shot conveniently and quickly."

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