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Opinion
Justin Fox

Do-It-Yourself States Have the Edge in Vaccinations

The U.S. Covid-19 vaccine rollout has been uneven. Places like West Virginia that forged their own plans instead of waiting for a federal program are leading the way.

Lessons in vaccination programs.

Lessons in vaccination programs.

Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty Images

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Some U.S. states are rolling out Covid-19 vaccination campaigns much faster than others. Why is that?

The Department of Health and Human Services allocates vaccines to states proportionately on the basis of their 18-and-older populations — so unlike with countries, where availability of vaccine so far seems to be the biggest determinant of vaccination rates, the states that are getting shots into arms quicker might actually have some useful lessons for others to emulate.