Data Shows Oklahoma Won't Hit 70% Of Adults With 1 Dose Until Late October

It is a race for the Biden administration to get the United States vaccinated by the Fourth of July, but what’s the realistic chance of Oklahoma getting to the 70% margin?

“We are nowhere close to the numbers where we need to get to prevent the virus from one to another,” said Dr. Dale Bratzler, with OU Health.

Current polls show that Oklahoma really will only need to get to a 65% to 66% vaccine rate, leaving many Oklahomans with different levels of protection.

When the vaccine first rolled out, the state was averaging 28,000 doses daily, helping get to the point Oklahoma is at now with 54% of those 18 years and older with their first vaccine dose.

Now for the past month, the state is only averaging 4,500 doses daily at this rate. To get Oklahoma to 70%, it would take until the end of October or early November if the rate remains the same.

To hit the more realistic goal, 65% would take until the end of September.

“The fall is when we are looking at a great chance of resurgence, so we do have some time,” said OSDH Deputy Commissioner of Health Keith Reed.

Right now, the urge is to create incentives to get those vaccinated in the state, but there is no set idea as to what that could be.