Oklahoma To Get 25 Percent Increase In Vaccines Next Week

The state health department says they're getting an increase in COVID-19 vaccines next week.

It comes as a million more Oklahomans will now be eligible for the shot.

The state health department says they're getting a 25 percent increase in vaccine from Pfizer next week.

Meaning the state will have 137,000 new doses.

This week's winter storm is delaying distribution of this week’s doses.

Deputy Commissioner of Health Keith Reed says they should receive this week's allotment by Saturday of about 110,000 doses.

In the meantime, health officials are working hard catching up on cancelled appointments.

Reed says they will be offering clinics on both Saturday and Sunday.

And they're adding special clinics just for Oklahomans 65 and older who are in need of their booster or second shot.

This all comes as the state moves to their next priority group in phase 2 of their rollout plan.

Starting Monday, teachers in Oklahoma and Oklahomans with co-morbidities will start getting their first doses.

"That eligibility will be turned on on Sunday,” said Reed. “So what happens is when we turn that on, then that system starts sending out emails--so many emails an hour--throughout the day to notify those individuals that they are eligible to go in and search for an appointment," said Reed.

The state health department has now given out more than 680,000 doses statewide.

That ranks 14th in doses per capita nationwide.