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– “Have a go, friends,” Tate Reeves, Governor of Mississippi tweeted Monday. “And let’s be normal again!” As of Tuesday, the state has lifted restrictions on who can receive a vaccine against coronavirus. Mississippi has had someone 50 or older make an appointment, the New York Times reports, and Reeves suggested people enter the category quickly. In his speech to the country last week, President Biden said he wanted them to open vaccinations to everyone by May 1st. Alaska also beat the date so everyone who lives or works in the state gets the chance. Michigan has said it will open by April 5th.
About 20% of Mississippi residents received at least one dose of vaccine, and 11% had two; the state’s supply consists of vaccines Moderna and Pfizer, according to the Oxford eagle, who both need a second shot. These figures are higher than most of Mississippi’s neighbors, but lower than those of most other states, according to the Times. Reeves, a Republican, has already lifted the state mask mandate, which Biden called a mistake. The governor also allows businesses to return to full capacity, per WAPT. In his speech, the president called for “adhering to the rules” in an effort to curb the virus. (European countries stopped using one vaccine on Monday.)