JACKSON, Miss — UPDATE 3/4/2021 - Gov. Tate Reeves announced Thursday the state is now expanding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to those 50-years of age and older.
(NEWS RELEASE) - Beginning today, those eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccination in Mississippi will now include all persons 50 years of age and older.
To date, 94 percent of COVID-19 related deaths (6,381) and 80 percent (7,342) of COVID-19 related hospitalizations in Mississippi have been among those 50 and older.
“So far, about 350,000 persons aged 50 years and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the state. We are expanding our eligibility to this age group to increase the access to vaccination in this vulnerable population and prevent hospitalizations and deaths,” said MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers.
The modified eligibility criteria for COVID-19 vaccine in Mississippi are as follows:
- All persons aged 50 years and older.
- All teachers/staff/employees in K-12, preschool or childcare settings.
- All first responders (including law enforcement, public safety, fire services and emergency management officials)
- All healthcare personnel.
- Persons aged 16-49 years with underlying medical conditions, as follows: cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Down syndrome, heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies), immunocompromised from solid organ transplant, obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2), pregnancy, sickle cell disease, smoking, diabetes, or other medical conditions determined by the medical provider.
To register for an appointment at a Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) drive-through site, visit https://covidvaccine.umc.edu or call the MSDH COVID-19 Hotline at 1-877-978-6453 for additional assistance.
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2/24/2021 - Gov. Tate Reeves announced Mississippi teachers and first responders will be eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine starting Monday.
Vaccinations in Mississippi are currently available for people 65 and older, health care workers and those who are at least 16 and have health conditions that might make them more vulnerable to the virus.
Reeves said teachers and first responders put themselves at risk to support the community during the pandemic and deserve to be next in line.
The state Department of Health said about 350,000 people in Mississippi have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of Tuesday.