According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 39% of adults in rural counties received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose compared with 46% of adults in urban counties. The analysis included data collected up until April 10. Thirty-six states had higher coverage in urban counties, five had higher coverage in rural counties, and five had similar coverage in rural and urban counties. The other four states did not have any rural counties. “As availability of COVID-19 vaccines expands, public health practitioners should continue collaborating with health care providers, pharmacies, employers, faith leaders, and other community partners to identify and address barriers to COVID-19 vaccination in rural areas,” the authors wrote. (MMWR article, 5/18/21)
