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Nearly half of U.S. states will have opened COVID-19 vaccinations to all adults by April 15, officials said Friday, putting them weeks ahead of the May 1 deadline that President Joe Biden 

Jeff Zients, Biden's COVID-19 czar, said that 46 states and Washington, D.C., have announced plans to expand eligibility to all adults by May 1. Officials at the White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing noted an uptick in confirmed cases and hospitalizations, and urged the public to stay vigilant even as the country's vaccination rollout picks up speed. 

"It's clear there is a case for optimism, but there is not a case for relaxation," Zients said. "This is not the time to let down our guard. We need to follow the public health guidance, wear a mask, socially distance and get a vaccine when it's your turn." 

A growing number of Americans will be able to sign up sooner rather than later, as dozens of states have moved to accelerate their timelines. Fourteen states have already opened eligibility to all adults or are set to do so in the next week, with another 12 set to follow by April 15. 

 to make vaccinations available to all adults over the age of 16 earlier this month, followed by 

. Several others have since followed suit, including 

More states will join that list in the coming days. Starting March 29, for example, eligibility will expand to all adults in places like 

 will similarly expand access before the end of the month.

Minnesota Gov. Walz OKs shots for all 16 and older

, adults will be able to register for appointments 

 Thursday that adults ages 50 and older will be eligible for appointments starting April 1, with individuals 16 and older to follow on April 15.

Other states are moving to make more groups eligible ahead of schedule, based on age or underlying conditions. 

 on Friday that people ages 55 and older, individuals over the age of 16 with intellectual and developmental disabilities, higher education employees and other essential workers will qualify starting April 5. 

 will be eligible beginning March 29, officials announced Thursday. 

According to a map released by the White House COVID-19 Response Team on Friday, four states have yet to confirm plans to expand eligibility ahead of the May 1 deadline: New York, Wyoming, Arkansas and South Carolina, where officials have said they are 

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at the briefing that the country has seen an uptick in case counts and hospital admissions, with the most recent 7-day averages showing about 57,000 cases and 4,700 hospitalizations per day, and hospitalizations hovering around 1,000. 

Noting the trajectory with concern, she implored listeners to "take this moment very seriously" and continue following public health guidance. 

"If you haven't been vaccinated, your turn is likely very soon," Walensky said. "We can turn this around, but it will take all of us working together." 

Friday's announcement comes a day after Biden declared a new goal of getting 

 shots in arms by his 100th day in office, or the end of April. Federal officials said the country hit his initial target of 100 million doses 

The U.S. is administering 2.5 million shots a day at its current pace, Zients said, adding that vaccine makers are "setting and hitting targets." Some 27 million doses went to states, tribes and territories this week. 

Johnson & Johnson has accelerated production of its single-shot vaccine and is on track to deliver 11 million doses next week. Zients expressed confidence that it will, and, in doing so, meet its goal of 20 million doses for the month of March. 

Health

COVID-19

Rachel Treisman

Author

Officials said Friday that 46 states and Washington, D.C., have announced plans to expand eligibility to all adults by President Joe Biden's May 1 deadline, with many set to do so in the coming weeks. 

Nearly half of states will make all adults COVID-19 vaccine eligible by April 15

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