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Delaware will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for anyone 16 and older, starting April 6
Dawn Timmeney reports from Claymont, Delaware on Governor John Carney's announcement to expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for individuals 16 and older beginning April 6.
CLAYMONT, Del. - Governor John Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health announced Tuesday all Delawareans aged 16 and older will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine April 6.
Those seeking the vaccine will be able to get one at pharmacies, community vaccination sites, and mass vaccination events hosted by the State of Delaware.
Tuesday’s announcement Is much sooner than President Biden’s May 1st deadline to make all adults eligibile.
"Today’s announcement means that more Delawareans who want to be vaccinated will have the chance to find a shot," said Governor Carney. "All three of these vaccines are extremely safe, and extremely effective against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. I’d urge all Delawareans to take the first shot you’re offered. That’s how we’ll beat this virus, and get back to spending more time with friends and family."
"It’s hard to see my smiling, but I’m smiling. This is good news," Wilmington resident Nate Davis.
Davis is elated that Delaware is expanding vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and older beginning Tuesday, April 6.
"I work with kids with special needs. Definitely need all of our staff vaccinated. I think it’s important we all get vaccinated," Davis added.
Governor John Carney making the announcement amid a renewed urgency to get more shots in arms, as the First State is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases.
"We were down under 200 new cases, per day, in a seven-day moving average. You can see, we’re over 280 now, again," Governor Carney lamented.
Steve Tartaglia can’t wait to be vaccinated.
"I’m thrilled to hear it, because, I’m 47 going on 19. But I was waiting to hear, because they said their target was May 1st, eligibility for everyone. So, it sounds like it’s being moved up by about a month, which is great news," Tartaglia stated.
It comes as Pennsylvania is still struggling to vaccinate everyone in Group 1A. New Jersey recently lowering its age requirement to 55 and older.
"I think it will really help because we don’t want it to continue to spread and people die," Newark resident Tiffany G. stated.
Tracy Payne admits she was on the fence about getting vaccinated, but says she’s lost too many friends to the virus.
"I’m scared of COVID. I’m scared. I don’t want to catch it, so yeah, I think I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna talk my husband into getting the vaccine, too," Payne commented.
As of Monday, March 29, Delaware providers had administered 439,391 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. More than 30 percent of Delaware’s population has received at least one shot.
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