Nebraska to Open COVID Vaccines to Anyone Starting Monday

March 31, 2021, 1:19 p.m. ·

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Governor Pete Ricketts at his press briefing on Wednesday. (Photo from screenshot)

Starting Monday, the entire state will be eligible to transition to any age category for COVID-19 vaccinations. That’s the word from Governor Pete Ricketts, who announced Wednesday individual health districts will still have the final say over which age groups are getting vaccines.

“That doesn’t mean your health district will be going to any age category because different health districts are at different places,” Ricketts said. “For example, here in Lancaster County I believe we’re at age 58 and up right now, but in other health district they’re ready to move on and go to younger populations.”

Some health districts have already transitioned to younger age groups and the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program is giving vaccines to anyone 18 years old and older.

Also, Ricketts said 14 more people are hospitalized for COVID, a more than 10% one-day increase. 116 people across the state are being treated now for COVID-related illnesses.

“While that number still represents less than 3% of all the hospital beds that we have available right now in the state of Nebraska and our hospital capacity is still very robust, we do want to remind people, please, continue to use the tools that we have to be able to slow the spread of the virus.”

There were 392 new cases in Nebraska on Monday, the highest daily total in ten days. So far, nearly 23% of eligible Nebraskans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.